**“Powell and the president's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (search), who has experience with extensive hurricane damage in Florida, leave Sunday to visit coastal areas in the Indian Ocean ravaged by last Sunday's tsunami.”
Isn’t it nice to see the Rovians turn the death of 125,000 people into a political opportunity for little bro? Shameful.
Just like when Bush II, wasn’t going to campaign on 9/11, turns out that’s all he did. Just wait until Jebbie’s campaign videos in 2008, you’ll see Jeb unloading rice from army trucks and walking through flood ravaged streets.
**This is from Foxnews, so it’s plain to see why the qualification of Jeb Bush as the most qualified man to help in Asia because he’s walked among blown over houses in Florida.
Friday, December 31, 2004
Thursday, December 23, 2004
The President's good friend
Russia gets Yukos unit
Acquisition called 'a blow for rule of law' in Russia
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/yhoo/story.asp?guid=%7BDFA5E6E0-EB25-4BD1-BB64-C918CE64CA0E%7D&siteid=myyahoo&dist=myyahoo
In related news...the President wants to reward the Russian Dictator with WTO membership. A true judge of character that President of ours. All while ignoring the very likely possibility that Putin knew of the assisination attempt on Yushchenko, haven't heard that in the Liberal media, but it seems like a very likely possibility considering his recent moves to re-establish Stalinesque control over Russia.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14889-2004Dec20.html
"Vladimir Putin and I have got a good personal relationship, starting with our meeting in Slovenia," Bush said during his year-end news conference. "I intend to keep it that way."
Acquisition called 'a blow for rule of law' in Russia
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/yhoo/story.asp?guid=%7BDFA5E6E0-EB25-4BD1-BB64-C918CE64CA0E%7D&siteid=myyahoo&dist=myyahoo
In related news...the President wants to reward the Russian Dictator with WTO membership. A true judge of character that President of ours. All while ignoring the very likely possibility that Putin knew of the assisination attempt on Yushchenko, haven't heard that in the Liberal media, but it seems like a very likely possibility considering his recent moves to re-establish Stalinesque control over Russia.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14889-2004Dec20.html
"Vladimir Putin and I have got a good personal relationship, starting with our meeting in Slovenia," Bush said during his year-end news conference. "I intend to keep it that way."
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Another Neo-Con Piles on Rummy
With assorted Senators, former Generals held in high esteem and yesterday Bill Kristol and today someone from AEI jumping on Rummy, can he be long for his job?
Rumsfeld's War
Thu Dec 16, 9:21 AM ET
Tom Donnelly
Washington (The Daily Standard) - DEFENSE SECRETARY DONALD RUMSFELD'S meeting engagement with Army Specialist Thomas Wilson in Kuwait last week was not just a reality check for an arrogant and isolated Beltway bigwig. It was also, and perhaps more profoundly, an overdue reality check for what has proved in practice to be a terrible idea: military "transformation."
For the past 15 years, big thinkers and strategists have observed that the application of information technologies had made businesses more efficient and effective. Why couldn't similar efficiencies and increases in battlefield effectiveness be wrung from military forces which, after all, were troglodytic expressions of the Industrial Age? Heavily armored ground forces, in particular, were too ponderous and therefore vulnerable in the emerging age of "netwar" with al Qaeda and spectacularly "enabled" leaders like Osama bin Laden (news - web sites). And, as Rumsfeld told the troops in Kuwait, armored vehicles still get blown up anyway.Whatever genuine wisdom was resident in these observations was long ago smothered by two more traditional impulses: air-power theory and number-crunching systems analysis. In fact, these two schools of thought actively conspired to capture the flag of transformation. And so it turned out that transformation perfectly fit the programs that the Air Force already had on the books, most importantly and expensively the tactical fighter programs like the F-22 and the Joint Strike Fighter. And to pay for it, the green-eyeshade analysts at the Pentagon (news - web sites) looked to cut Army force structure. Like all good captains of industry, they looked to substitute capital for labor.Thus we have a Defense secretary more concerned about the Army and the force he'd like to have--the high-speed-low-drag transformed force of the future--than the force with which he actually has to fight today's wars. And, in fact, Rumsfeld and his lieutenants would also simply like to fight the wars they'd like to have rather than the war as it is. How else to explain the Pentagon's conduct of operations in Iraq (news - web sites)? The administration is still patting itself on the back for the initial invasion; this week's ceremony honoring retired General Tommy Franks, President Bush (news - web sites) acted as though the problems of the post-invasion period didn't exist: the invasion was "the fastest, longest armored advance in the history of American warfare" with "a force half the size of the force that won the Gulf War (news - web sites)" and "defeated Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s regime and reached Baghdad in less than a month."But the reality in Iraq today is Tommy Wilson's war, not Tommy Franks's war.Nor is it Donald Rumsfeld's war, or at least not the war he wants. Even longtime supporters and transformation advocates have begun to recognize that Rumsfeld is now a large part of the problem. Loren Thompson, head of the Lexington Institute, a defense think-tank long supportive of the secretary, told the Washington Post on Monday that Rumsfeld won't face reality: "He knows what the situation is, but he has been unready to change his plans." Rumsfeld has been most reluctant to change his plans about the size of U.S. land forces, and the Army in particular. It was, perhaps, a good idea to "go early and go ugly," as senior generals put it, to war in Iraq; waiting longer to build up forces in the spring of 2003 was not a risk-free proposition, and most of those now bemoaning the size of the invasion force are at heart still bemoaning the invasion itself. But the experience of the past 18 months must count for something in reconsidering the overall size of the Army.In agreeing to stay on as Defense secretary in the second Bush term, Rumsfeld has made it known that he wants to "complete the job of transformation" he has started. It would be far better if he would dedicate himself to winning the war he helped to start.Tom Donnelly is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a contributing writer to The Daily Standard.
Rumsfeld's War
Thu Dec 16, 9:21 AM ET
Tom Donnelly
Washington (The Daily Standard) - DEFENSE SECRETARY DONALD RUMSFELD'S meeting engagement with Army Specialist Thomas Wilson in Kuwait last week was not just a reality check for an arrogant and isolated Beltway bigwig. It was also, and perhaps more profoundly, an overdue reality check for what has proved in practice to be a terrible idea: military "transformation."
For the past 15 years, big thinkers and strategists have observed that the application of information technologies had made businesses more efficient and effective. Why couldn't similar efficiencies and increases in battlefield effectiveness be wrung from military forces which, after all, were troglodytic expressions of the Industrial Age? Heavily armored ground forces, in particular, were too ponderous and therefore vulnerable in the emerging age of "netwar" with al Qaeda and spectacularly "enabled" leaders like Osama bin Laden (news - web sites). And, as Rumsfeld told the troops in Kuwait, armored vehicles still get blown up anyway.Whatever genuine wisdom was resident in these observations was long ago smothered by two more traditional impulses: air-power theory and number-crunching systems analysis. In fact, these two schools of thought actively conspired to capture the flag of transformation. And so it turned out that transformation perfectly fit the programs that the Air Force already had on the books, most importantly and expensively the tactical fighter programs like the F-22 and the Joint Strike Fighter. And to pay for it, the green-eyeshade analysts at the Pentagon (news - web sites) looked to cut Army force structure. Like all good captains of industry, they looked to substitute capital for labor.Thus we have a Defense secretary more concerned about the Army and the force he'd like to have--the high-speed-low-drag transformed force of the future--than the force with which he actually has to fight today's wars. And, in fact, Rumsfeld and his lieutenants would also simply like to fight the wars they'd like to have rather than the war as it is. How else to explain the Pentagon's conduct of operations in Iraq (news - web sites)? The administration is still patting itself on the back for the initial invasion; this week's ceremony honoring retired General Tommy Franks, President Bush (news - web sites) acted as though the problems of the post-invasion period didn't exist: the invasion was "the fastest, longest armored advance in the history of American warfare" with "a force half the size of the force that won the Gulf War (news - web sites)" and "defeated Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s regime and reached Baghdad in less than a month."But the reality in Iraq today is Tommy Wilson's war, not Tommy Franks's war.Nor is it Donald Rumsfeld's war, or at least not the war he wants. Even longtime supporters and transformation advocates have begun to recognize that Rumsfeld is now a large part of the problem. Loren Thompson, head of the Lexington Institute, a defense think-tank long supportive of the secretary, told the Washington Post on Monday that Rumsfeld won't face reality: "He knows what the situation is, but he has been unready to change his plans." Rumsfeld has been most reluctant to change his plans about the size of U.S. land forces, and the Army in particular. It was, perhaps, a good idea to "go early and go ugly," as senior generals put it, to war in Iraq; waiting longer to build up forces in the spring of 2003 was not a risk-free proposition, and most of those now bemoaning the size of the invasion force are at heart still bemoaning the invasion itself. But the experience of the past 18 months must count for something in reconsidering the overall size of the Army.In agreeing to stay on as Defense secretary in the second Bush term, Rumsfeld has made it known that he wants to "complete the job of transformation" he has started. It would be far better if he would dedicate himself to winning the war he helped to start.Tom Donnelly is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a contributing writer to The Daily Standard.
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Kerik tripped up by Nanny deal
I never cared about the Nanny thing when the Republicans used against Clinton's nominees a decade ago. So, I don't care about this now.
What FREAKS me out, is that the man that was to be our Director of Homeland Security "DIDN'T KNOW" he had an arrest warrant out for himself. This man can't keep his own house in order and he's going to protect America?
UnFREAKINbelievable
What FREAKS me out, is that the man that was to be our Director of Homeland Security "DIDN'T KNOW" he had an arrest warrant out for himself. This man can't keep his own house in order and he's going to protect America?
UnFREAKINbelievable
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Not a matter of Physics...Apparently
Despite Rummy lame-ass attempts to defend not arming soldiers, it appears that it's not a matter of "physics" that they can't arm the HUmvees. It was the Pentagon's incompetence that puts soldiers in harms way.
ON a side note: The "Liberal media" didn't apparently catch this, but Rummy said you go to war with the army you have, not the one you want to have.
Well, actually Sec. Liar, this was a war the prosecution of which was entirely up to the WH. There was no imminent threat, no Iraqi troops massing on our borders and they apparently had a pretty good idea that there were no WMD. So, Rummy could have waited, gotten the soldier what they need and then invaded. NOT EVEN TO MENTION, that it's been nearly two years and they STILL, don't have enough armor.
Shameful.
ON a side note: The "Liberal media" didn't apparently catch this, but Rummy said you go to war with the army you have, not the one you want to have.
Well, actually Sec. Liar, this was a war the prosecution of which was entirely up to the WH. There was no imminent threat, no Iraqi troops massing on our borders and they apparently had a pretty good idea that there were no WMD. So, Rummy could have waited, gotten the soldier what they need and then invaded. NOT EVEN TO MENTION, that it's been nearly two years and they STILL, don't have enough armor.
Shameful.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Why do GI's hate America?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6676765/
Just yesterday I read a Heritage Foundation “report” complaining about how the “Media” is presenting a one sided picture of the situation in Iraq and that according to some of the soldiers they’ve talked to Iraq is really like Prague in the summer. About 10 minutes after that the CIA memo about how crappy things are in Iraq came across my Google News and now this.
Maybe if the Bushies in the Heritage Foundation stopped looking to blame the “media” for everything while forcing their agenda and looked at reality, everyone would have a better picture of what’s going on.
As we can only assume based on the fine work of Heritage and other Bush toadies, like Safire, that the “media” put these soldiers up to this. In fact, they are probably not even soldiers but members of the Red Cross or the conspiracy to make Donavan McNabb a good quarterback.
Just yesterday I read a Heritage Foundation “report” complaining about how the “Media” is presenting a one sided picture of the situation in Iraq and that according to some of the soldiers they’ve talked to Iraq is really like Prague in the summer. About 10 minutes after that the CIA memo about how crappy things are in Iraq came across my Google News and now this.
Maybe if the Bushies in the Heritage Foundation stopped looking to blame the “media” for everything while forcing their agenda and looked at reality, everyone would have a better picture of what’s going on.
As we can only assume based on the fine work of Heritage and other Bush toadies, like Safire, that the “media” put these soldiers up to this. In fact, they are probably not even soldiers but members of the Red Cross or the conspiracy to make Donavan McNabb a good quarterback.
Monday, December 06, 2004
Random Sports Notes
Why is everyone pretending to be surprised and outraged about Barry Bonds took steriods. We all knew it. What's especially comical is Bond's contention he didn't know what was in the creams he used. Are you freakin kidding me? This guy is obsession about the amount of control he exerts in his life and career. Whether it be dealing with the media or saying he didn't trust MLB to test his body for steroids. Yet, we are supposed to believe he just trusted these guys at BALCO to put whatever it wanted on his body and he never asked what it was? Yeah, right. And Pete Rose didn't bet on baseball.
When will Rush apologize for being so very wrong about Donovan McNabb? Or were those 5 first half touchdowns the product of the media conspiracy to see McNabb do well? Is the media also responsible for Culpepper's season? Aaron Brooks?
the BCS proves itself a joke again this year. Now, I know Lee Corso has spoken and said Auburn doesn't even deserve a shot at the title, but he's been an idiot for years why would he stop now. As I watch Oregon's Linfield College march throw it's collegiate football tourney, I wonder how clowns like Corso can speak without being called an idiot by his peers. So, Auburn screwed(someone was going to of the Top 3). How about Cal? One loss, to the #1 team by 7 points on the road, but Texas's coach campaigned for votes. That's shameful and pathetic that a coach would do that. Have some pride man. Oh Yeah, Boise St...sorry, but until you get rid of the Blue Turf no one will take you serious.
DOn't tell me we can't have a 16 team tournament. The only arguement I've heard against this is, well what about the 17th best team. Are you kidding me. There is no way a 16th place team (or a 10th place) for that matter is going to beat a top 2 team, but wouldn't it be great to see Boise St go up against SC in the first round. And hell, if they win it, great. There is always someone that gets left out of the tournament, but in a 16 team scenario everyone who has a legitimate shot at it is in the tourney and can prove it on the field. The current two team playoff system is stupid and guess what...it doesn't even fix the problem it was supposed to fix (ONE UNDISPUTED NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP).
What a disaster.
When will Rush apologize for being so very wrong about Donovan McNabb? Or were those 5 first half touchdowns the product of the media conspiracy to see McNabb do well? Is the media also responsible for Culpepper's season? Aaron Brooks?
the BCS proves itself a joke again this year. Now, I know Lee Corso has spoken and said Auburn doesn't even deserve a shot at the title, but he's been an idiot for years why would he stop now. As I watch Oregon's Linfield College march throw it's collegiate football tourney, I wonder how clowns like Corso can speak without being called an idiot by his peers. So, Auburn screwed(someone was going to of the Top 3). How about Cal? One loss, to the #1 team by 7 points on the road, but Texas's coach campaigned for votes. That's shameful and pathetic that a coach would do that. Have some pride man. Oh Yeah, Boise St...sorry, but until you get rid of the Blue Turf no one will take you serious.
DOn't tell me we can't have a 16 team tournament. The only arguement I've heard against this is, well what about the 17th best team. Are you kidding me. There is no way a 16th place team (or a 10th place) for that matter is going to beat a top 2 team, but wouldn't it be great to see Boise St go up against SC in the first round. And hell, if they win it, great. There is always someone that gets left out of the tournament, but in a 16 team scenario everyone who has a legitimate shot at it is in the tourney and can prove it on the field. The current two team playoff system is stupid and guess what...it doesn't even fix the problem it was supposed to fix (ONE UNDISPUTED NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP).
What a disaster.
Monday, November 29, 2004
"Activist Judges" oh the hypocrisy
Activist Judges may overturn the EXPRESSED will of half the country (geographically...more or less)
This is the ULTIMATE in activist judges. People in 11 states have voted clearly on this issue and now these clowns in Washington are going to make medical decisions for millions of Americans. CLEARLY denying the will of the people in their lame attempts to gain some leverage in the failed "war on drugs".
The hypocrisy astounds.
BTW - Do any of the Justices have MDs?
On a personal note: when I had back surgery earlier this year, I was given Oxycodone for the pain. Oxycodone is highly addictive (ISN'T IT RUSH...you hypocrite) didn't help my pain all that much and gave me horrible headaches and constipation. Shouldn't John Ashcroft be suing somebody, some Doctors or States, to stop Doctors from prescribing this?
REMEMBER, WHEN CONSERVATIVES WE'RE ALL ABOUT "STATES RIGHTS"?
This is the ULTIMATE in activist judges. People in 11 states have voted clearly on this issue and now these clowns in Washington are going to make medical decisions for millions of Americans. CLEARLY denying the will of the people in their lame attempts to gain some leverage in the failed "war on drugs".
The hypocrisy astounds.
BTW - Do any of the Justices have MDs?
On a personal note: when I had back surgery earlier this year, I was given Oxycodone for the pain. Oxycodone is highly addictive (ISN'T IT RUSH...you hypocrite) didn't help my pain all that much and gave me horrible headaches and constipation. Shouldn't John Ashcroft be suing somebody, some Doctors or States, to stop Doctors from prescribing this?
REMEMBER, WHEN CONSERVATIVES WE'RE ALL ABOUT "STATES RIGHTS"?
Another man destroyed for telling the truth
FDA may reassign Vioxx whistleblower
How can anyone support what goes on in this Administration? Retrubition for trying to stop people from dying? APPALLING
I can’t wait to hear how this is good public policy from the Bushies.
(Timely sidenote: While getting some medicine for my sick kid today, noticed I had some Vioxx samples in the cupboard…I threw them out)
How can anyone support what goes on in this Administration? Retrubition for trying to stop people from dying? APPALLING
I can’t wait to hear how this is good public policy from the Bushies.
(Timely sidenote: While getting some medicine for my sick kid today, noticed I had some Vioxx samples in the cupboard…I threw them out)
Washington Governor's Race...or Damn, I'm cynical these days
WSJ had an article about the WA Governor's race:
FUND ON THE TRAIL:
"Florida NorthwestWill Democrats steal the Washington
governorship?"
Monday, November 29, 2004 12:01 a.m.
Anyway a friend sent it to me and below is my response to the article:
FUND ON THE TRAIL:
"Florida NorthwestWill Democrats steal the Washington
governorship?"
Monday, November 29, 2004 12:01 a.m.
Anyway a friend sent it to me and below is my response to the article:
The only thing I think this and the Florida race in 2000 and maybe even Ohio
this year prove is that your vote doesn’t really count. Each year we learn
that states CAN NOT physically count all the votes accurately. You’re vote
surely counts if you live in a jurisdiction with a large plurality toward one
side, but in the races where each vote is critical it’s been proven that we just
can’t count votes accurately.
I was up in Washington this weekend and watched a little TV and the most obvious statement (and troubling) was someone who pointed out that “you and I could count this stack of ballots today and agree on a number, tomorrow we would count them again and likely get different numbers”. So True.
Let’s say Gregoire gets her recount and she wins by 50 votes. Is Rossi supposed to let that stand? I would think not.
The only thing you can say about this election is that we will NEVER know the true count.
Since the "Liberal Media" ignored this
You may recall there was a Marine who apparently shot a wounded, unarmed Iraqi a few weeks ago. I don't know the details and the media apparently ignored it after the initial report...America's memory span is about the same as a Goldfish these days (remember Afghanistan?).
Anyway, this is a posting by Kevin Sites who took the pictures of the shooting.
Anyway, this is a posting by Kevin Sites who took the pictures of the shooting.
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Happy Thanksgiving
With recent events like the NBA brawl, the GOP's abandonment of any semblence of Principle with the Delay Rule and Congress proving how truly disfunctional it is with the ramming thru of the Omnibus Spending package that apparently NO ONE in Congress Write or EVEN reads, I figured I'd go to the in-laws for the weekend.
Happy holidays
Check you next week.
Happy holidays
Check you next week.
Sunday, November 21, 2004
Stop defending Ron Artest et al
I'm so SICK of former sports guys and sportswriters defending the actions of Ron Artest and especially those of the others.
Here's part of an email I sent to Steve Kerr after he defended Artest.
Vigilante justice doesn't have a place in professional sports and getting hit with a plastic cup (ON THE CHEST, not the fact like every defender of Artest seems to be lieing about) doesn't give anyone on the street or in a basketball arena the opportunity or free pass to start trying to kill people.
In my mind, Artest shouldn't even get the worst fine. It should be Jackson and O'Neal, who didn't get hit with a cup until they decided that the Pacers were going to take on 10,000 fans.
And stop worrying about their punishment. The union will fight the fines, and the fines will amount to a couple of days pay, like a traffic ticket to a normal person. And these players will go on with their day jobs and suffer no real consequences. While the fans, maybe they get arrested and have to pay fines as well, my guess is those fines will be a hell of a lot more in percentage Income Dollars than those by the players.
Here's part of an email I sent to Steve Kerr after he defended Artest.
Ron Artest is not a police officer. I wish you and everyone else wouldJohn Saunders of ESPN, on Friday night, that any fan who stepped on the court "got what they deserved". Really? By that logic, Artest and Jackson who crossed that same line in the other direction got what he deserved. Hey John, where would "getting what you deserved" have ended. If Jermaine O'Neal had blindedsided that one guy in the temple instead of the jaw, would have have "gotten what he deserved" as he lie on the ground? The guy that Artest punched on the floor didn't swing at him, Artest made the first move.
stop defending his actions. The fan WAS MOST definitely at fault and
should have arrested by SECURITY. By your twisted logic, having a plastic
cup thrown on you on the street should result in full on beat down by the person
on the recieving end of the cup. Sorry, Steve, that's not how the real
world works. Maybe in the world of spoiled athletes it does, but out in
the real world, Police handle things like this. Artest could have killed
that guy he attacked. As a fan, I've been hit by things thrown by other
fans, so I have a free pass to try to kill whoever threw it? Methinks not,
and maybe those of you who have had to endure the taunts of fans for you
multi-millionare dollar contracts need to get some perspective.
Vigilante justice doesn't have a place in professional sports and getting hit with a plastic cup (ON THE CHEST, not the fact like every defender of Artest seems to be lieing about) doesn't give anyone on the street or in a basketball arena the opportunity or free pass to start trying to kill people.
In my mind, Artest shouldn't even get the worst fine. It should be Jackson and O'Neal, who didn't get hit with a cup until they decided that the Pacers were going to take on 10,000 fans.
And stop worrying about their punishment. The union will fight the fines, and the fines will amount to a couple of days pay, like a traffic ticket to a normal person. And these players will go on with their day jobs and suffer no real consequences. While the fans, maybe they get arrested and have to pay fines as well, my guess is those fines will be a hell of a lot more in percentage Income Dollars than those by the players.
Friday, November 19, 2004
Stop Calling Bushies "Conservative"
One of the main tenets of Conservativism is fiscal responsiblity, the Bushies and the GOP have proven for the third time in three years they are fiscally
Friday, November 12, 2004
Will the Missile Shield help us with this reality?
Missing tanker causing some concern...after 7 MONTHS.
Far Right still attacking Spector
National Review Online goes after Spector...again.
And rather than be honorable and let him respond to their criticism they act like a 14 year and just have to have the last word.
Are there any grown ups left on the Right?
Bill Buckley...what has become of your movement
And rather than be honorable and let him respond to their criticism they act like a 14 year and just have to have the last word.
Are there any grown ups left on the Right?
Bill Buckley...what has become of your movement
Why does the Far Right HATE Constitutional Democracy?
Ashcroft says Judges should never question the President.
Frist says the Senate should approve all of the President's nominees.
Why the hell do these guys work in our Government if they have so much hatred for the Checks an Balances and three separate branches of Government?
If the Senate can't challenge the Executive's judicial choices and judiciary should never overturn the Executive's will all you have is a Monarchy/dictatorship.
Well, people, that's what you voted for...God have mercy.
Frist says the Senate should approve all of the President's nominees.
Why the hell do these guys work in our Government if they have so much hatred for the Checks an Balances and three separate branches of Government?
If the Senate can't challenge the Executive's judicial choices and judiciary should never overturn the Executive's will all you have is a Monarchy/dictatorship.
Well, people, that's what you voted for...God have mercy.
Thursday, November 11, 2004
The Glories of mass transit or why I love America
So, tonight I went to see David Sedaris in Portland. I decided to take light rail, because I didn't really want to drive into Portland during rush hour and I always feel good when I use the Mass Transit, even if it does take longer than driving.
Anyway, on the way down to the show, halfway to my stop, a hooker sits next to me. Red Leather skirt, black boots the whole nine. Behind me are these two 20's crunchy types ...who reak of living the hard life, but anyway they were pretty cool, because the girl asks the hooker if she's cold or wants something to eat...anyway just good people tryin to help out.
So, I see Sedaris, and he's great. His first reading, from an upcoming article in Esquire is the highlight, followed by his reading of diary entries.
So, that finishes up and I head back to the light rail. I'm sitting next to one clean cut guy, probably 25 with a HUGE shit-eatin' grin on his face. Appeared to be pretty hammered...all he did was smile and look at his transit map. Across from us are three girls, again probably in their 20's, obviously returning from a class at Portland St. So, I do a little listening. I hear the youngest of the trio, probably 24 or so offering advice on why shouldn't go back with her daughter's father because "he hasn't changed".
Didn't really get much more than that because I pick up today's Oregonian Business section and I'm reading about how Adidas has signed up David Beckham for there latest campaign, when this young girl, maybe 18-19 (I'm bad with ages, but I'll go with this) sits where the drunk guy was (I missed him getting off) and she leans over to say something to me. She speaks very quietly and with a slight accent. I figure she's just asking directions, because for some reason everywhere I go people think I look like the kind of guy who knows where stuff is and if you ask my wife, you'd know that's not true. (In fact when I got off the train in Portland a guy asked me where 5th street was, I guessed and said "down there" and I was right as I headed the wrong way toward the theater. Well, not the wrong way, but an ineffecient way...got off the train to the right ans should have gone left).
Anyway, back to the girl. She's got teenager's skin and long black hair in need of some conditioning. I say "excuse me" to which I get,
"Are you Christian, I'm a missionary". I immediatly reply "no thanks" very politely. I have to say "no thanks" 5 more times before she stops talking. She ends with "Jesus loves you". I wanted to respond with "well, then why should i worry", but I don't. She sits there for a little while longer before she talks to the trio across from (remember the girl with the daughter?). She talks to one who says she is also a Christian, born-again in fact. Then the two of them seem to not know what to say, but I did hear "Jesus loves you and he's coming soon". So, I get to thinking, is that only for Christians to know. How come I don't get that tidbit of info?
Eventually, the missionary leaves the seat and takes her show toward the front of the car, where right before she gets off she does talk to some guy for quite a while. He get literature, the whole deal, so maybe she saved a soul tonight.
After that drama, I turn my attention to my right where an older guy with a Michael Keaton from "Family Ties" kinda look is talking to two young techie dudes/skater guys about the new Canon Digital SLR he's going to buy. A 17 megapixel to replace the 11Megapixel he has now. Should run about $8000.
Then the techies get off the stop before me, then my stop. I get off, the guy with the camera gets off and the girl with the great body and sloped nose and her balding boyfriend get off too.
So, to recap. I travel on a money losing mass transit project and I feel good about it to see a gay American author who lives in France most of the time. While going I sit next to a prostitute, I watch my show, come back home, someone tries to Save me and I blow her off to listen to some excellent American consumerism.
Isn't America GREAT?
Anyway, on the way down to the show, halfway to my stop, a hooker sits next to me. Red Leather skirt, black boots the whole nine. Behind me are these two 20's crunchy types ...who reak of living the hard life, but anyway they were pretty cool, because the girl asks the hooker if she's cold or wants something to eat...anyway just good people tryin to help out.
So, I see Sedaris, and he's great. His first reading, from an upcoming article in Esquire is the highlight, followed by his reading of diary entries.
So, that finishes up and I head back to the light rail. I'm sitting next to one clean cut guy, probably 25 with a HUGE shit-eatin' grin on his face. Appeared to be pretty hammered...all he did was smile and look at his transit map. Across from us are three girls, again probably in their 20's, obviously returning from a class at Portland St. So, I do a little listening. I hear the youngest of the trio, probably 24 or so offering advice on why shouldn't go back with her daughter's father because "he hasn't changed".
Didn't really get much more than that because I pick up today's Oregonian Business section and I'm reading about how Adidas has signed up David Beckham for there latest campaign, when this young girl, maybe 18-19 (I'm bad with ages, but I'll go with this) sits where the drunk guy was (I missed him getting off) and she leans over to say something to me. She speaks very quietly and with a slight accent. I figure she's just asking directions, because for some reason everywhere I go people think I look like the kind of guy who knows where stuff is and if you ask my wife, you'd know that's not true. (In fact when I got off the train in Portland a guy asked me where 5th street was, I guessed and said "down there" and I was right as I headed the wrong way toward the theater. Well, not the wrong way, but an ineffecient way...got off the train to the right ans should have gone left).
Anyway, back to the girl. She's got teenager's skin and long black hair in need of some conditioning. I say "excuse me" to which I get,
"Are you Christian, I'm a missionary". I immediatly reply "no thanks" very politely. I have to say "no thanks" 5 more times before she stops talking. She ends with "Jesus loves you". I wanted to respond with "well, then why should i worry", but I don't. She sits there for a little while longer before she talks to the trio across from (remember the girl with the daughter?). She talks to one who says she is also a Christian, born-again in fact. Then the two of them seem to not know what to say, but I did hear "Jesus loves you and he's coming soon". So, I get to thinking, is that only for Christians to know. How come I don't get that tidbit of info?
Eventually, the missionary leaves the seat and takes her show toward the front of the car, where right before she gets off she does talk to some guy for quite a while. He get literature, the whole deal, so maybe she saved a soul tonight.
After that drama, I turn my attention to my right where an older guy with a Michael Keaton from "Family Ties" kinda look is talking to two young techie dudes/skater guys about the new Canon Digital SLR he's going to buy. A 17 megapixel to replace the 11Megapixel he has now. Should run about $8000.
Then the techies get off the stop before me, then my stop. I get off, the guy with the camera gets off and the girl with the great body and sloped nose and her balding boyfriend get off too.
So, to recap. I travel on a money losing mass transit project and I feel good about it to see a gay American author who lives in France most of the time. While going I sit next to a prostitute, I watch my show, come back home, someone tries to Save me and I blow her off to listen to some excellent American consumerism.
Isn't America GREAT?
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
What happened to Conservatism and Federalism?
So, the Bushies, who hate activist judges when the go against the will of the people, are trying to circumvent the will of the people.
You see, in Oregon this exact law was put before the people. Not initaited by some "activist judge", but we all went to the polls and were asked this question and we resoundingly answered "Yes, terminally ill people should have the right to end their pain". Not only did we answer this question ONCE, but we answered it twice. The second time 60-40 in favor of the Death with Dignity act. 60-40.
The Bushies, who again, hate it when bureaucrats contradict the will of the people, don't care about the pain a terminally ill person feels. They will execute children and mentally handicapped, but if you're about to die and are in a lot of pain, you have to live until GOD says it's ok to go.
These hypocritical zealots. They don't give a shit about what people want (the will of the voters) or anything about States Rights (Classic Republican Ideals), they care about power for themselves wrapped up in bigotry, intolerance and discompassion. Could these clowns be any further from the ideals laid out by Jesus?
You see, in Oregon this exact law was put before the people. Not initaited by some "activist judge", but we all went to the polls and were asked this question and we resoundingly answered "Yes, terminally ill people should have the right to end their pain". Not only did we answer this question ONCE, but we answered it twice. The second time 60-40 in favor of the Death with Dignity act. 60-40.
The Bushies, who again, hate it when bureaucrats contradict the will of the people, don't care about the pain a terminally ill person feels. They will execute children and mentally handicapped, but if you're about to die and are in a lot of pain, you have to live until GOD says it's ok to go.
These hypocritical zealots. They don't give a shit about what people want (the will of the voters) or anything about States Rights (Classic Republican Ideals), they care about power for themselves wrapped up in bigotry, intolerance and discompassion. Could these clowns be any further from the ideals laid out by Jesus?
Don't let science get in the way of your zealot agenda
Amazing, that despite scientific evidence, it's the Scientists who are being political. So, Abortion doesn't cause cancer, but by law you have to say it does.
The money quote is here:
Joel Brind, a biochemist at Baruch College in New York who advises the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer, noted that a woman's chances of getting breast cancer go down if she gives birth at a relatively young age. He reasons that those who opt for abortion are giving up a chance of reducing their breast cancer risk.
Therefore, he says, abortion increases the risk of cancer.
But this incredibly twisted logic, eating beans causes cancer. You see, Broccoli is very good for it's anti-cancer properties, so any meal that does not include Broccoli increases your risk of cancer, so by this quack's reasoning, Beans (and Doritos and Hot Dogs and Corn) cause cancer.
By the same reasoning, wouldn't the good doctor support every teenage girl get pregnant? Otherwise, she has a higher risk of Cancer sooooo, not being a teenage mother causes cancer.
The money quote is here:
Joel Brind, a biochemist at Baruch College in New York who advises the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer, noted that a woman's chances of getting breast cancer go down if she gives birth at a relatively young age. He reasons that those who opt for abortion are giving up a chance of reducing their breast cancer risk.
Therefore, he says, abortion increases the risk of cancer.
But this incredibly twisted logic, eating beans causes cancer. You see, Broccoli is very good for it's anti-cancer properties, so any meal that does not include Broccoli increases your risk of cancer, so by this quack's reasoning, Beans (and Doritos and Hot Dogs and Corn) cause cancer.
By the same reasoning, wouldn't the good doctor support every teenage girl get pregnant? Otherwise, she has a higher risk of Cancer sooooo, not being a teenage mother causes cancer.
Monday, November 08, 2004
In stores tomorrow
Toby Keith has a new Greatest Hits album coming out tomorrow…his third GH compilation. This from a guy with 8 albums, one of which is a Christmas album (required for Country artists…even my beloved Dwight has one)
Also on shelves tomorrow…Britney Spears Greatest Hits. Say wha’? She’s got four albums I believe and is there a single song that dosen’t use that horrible computerized effect to cover up her lame voice. Don’t get me wrong, I hope she stays hot and half naked for years to come, but please keep the singing to a minimum.
And don’t miss Shania Twain’s GH collection also tomorrow. AMG gave it 5 stars…again “say wha’?”.
I hate this about rating systems. Shania’s 5 stars is obviously different from the 5 stars Miles Davis or the Rolling Stones get, right. The reviewer must be comparing this album amongst other Shania work and other work in the genre of popified Country, right? I think 5 stars should mean five stars. So, if you give Rubber Soul or Pet Sounds 5 stars, a greatest hits albums by hot wives of hard rock producers could NEVER aspire beyond a four.
Also on shelves tomorrow…Britney Spears Greatest Hits. Say wha’? She’s got four albums I believe and is there a single song that dosen’t use that horrible computerized effect to cover up her lame voice. Don’t get me wrong, I hope she stays hot and half naked for years to come, but please keep the singing to a minimum.
And don’t miss Shania Twain’s GH collection also tomorrow. AMG gave it 5 stars…again “say wha’?”.
I hate this about rating systems. Shania’s 5 stars is obviously different from the 5 stars Miles Davis or the Rolling Stones get, right. The reviewer must be comparing this album amongst other Shania work and other work in the genre of popified Country, right? I think 5 stars should mean five stars. So, if you give Rubber Soul or Pet Sounds 5 stars, a greatest hits albums by hot wives of hard rock producers could NEVER aspire beyond a four.
Josh Marshall on Prime Minister Bush
Surveying the scene today, one thing that occurs to me is that President Bush is remaking the government into something that is looking more and more like a parliamentary democracy. I don't mean in every specific, of course; the key feature of the
Bush presidency is an extremely powerful executive that to a great degree coopts and controls his own congressional majorities.
But the similarities are important and worth understanding. The key elements are extremely tight party discipline (something political scientists have lamented the absence of for years) and a sharp diminishment of rivalries between the branches of government which used to cut against unified party control.
Party discipline is simple enough. President Bush's first term was replete with examples. And an instructive comparison is how much President Bush was able to accomplish with thin majorities in 2001-02 compared to what President Clinton was able to do with much more substantial majorities in 1993-94.
Today I'm struck by this most recent example with Arlen Specter.
Fresh from his successful senate reelection campaign, Specter (heir apparent to the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee) suggested he'd hold the line against anti-Roe v. Wade judges President Bush might appoint.
Then no more than a day later he beat a hasty and shamefaced retreat.
“Contrary to press accounts, I did not warn the President about anything and was very respectful of his Constitutional authority on the appointment of federal judges.
“As the record shows, I have supported every one of President Bush’s nominees in the Judiciary Committee and on the Senate floor. I have never and would never apply any litmus test on the abortion issue and, as the record shows, I have voted to confirm Chief Justice Rehnquist, Justice O’Connor, and Justice Kennedy and led the fight to confirm Justice Thomas.
“I have already sponsored a protocol calling for a Judiciary Committee hearing within thirty days of a nomination, a vote out of Committee thirty days later, and floor action thirty days after that. I am committed to such prompt action by the Committee on all of President Bush’s nominees.
“In light of the repeated filibusters by the Democrats in the last Senate session, I am concerned about a potential repetition of such filibusters. I expect to work well with President Bush in the judicial confirmation process in the years ahead.”
I assume the word came down from the White House to Sen. Specter that he simply wouldn't be Chairman if that were his attitude.
Then we have the incident we noted yesterday in which Sen. Frist may, at the president's say-so, change the cloture rules which require 60 votes to push through legislation.
Past presidents have usually had to deal with Majority Leaders who were much more solicitous of their chamber's independence and institutional preogatives. But then again, President Bush all but appointed Frist to his post. So this should not surprise us.
There's even an element of parliamentarism in President Bush's post-election comments about his mandate and his right to expect others to fall in line behind views because he won a majority, even if a small one, at the ballot box.
It's fine to bemoan this. And there's much to bemoan. But Democrats also need to learn how to live with it, at least for the next four years. And that means realizing that for at least the next two years, the President can get passed almost anything he wants to. His congressional majorities are now sufficiently padded that he can even afford a few Republican defections. He simply doesn't need Democrats for anything.
And that means approaching most legislative battles not with an eye toward preventing passage or significantly altering legislation, but placing alternatives on the table that the party will be able use as contrasts to frame the next two elections. In other words, their only remaining viable alternative is to be an actual party of opposition.
-- Josh Marshall
Bush presidency is an extremely powerful executive that to a great degree coopts and controls his own congressional majorities.
But the similarities are important and worth understanding. The key elements are extremely tight party discipline (something political scientists have lamented the absence of for years) and a sharp diminishment of rivalries between the branches of government which used to cut against unified party control.
Party discipline is simple enough. President Bush's first term was replete with examples. And an instructive comparison is how much President Bush was able to accomplish with thin majorities in 2001-02 compared to what President Clinton was able to do with much more substantial majorities in 1993-94.
Today I'm struck by this most recent example with Arlen Specter.
Fresh from his successful senate reelection campaign, Specter (heir apparent to the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee) suggested he'd hold the line against anti-Roe v. Wade judges President Bush might appoint.
Then no more than a day later he beat a hasty and shamefaced retreat.
“Contrary to press accounts, I did not warn the President about anything and was very respectful of his Constitutional authority on the appointment of federal judges.
“As the record shows, I have supported every one of President Bush’s nominees in the Judiciary Committee and on the Senate floor. I have never and would never apply any litmus test on the abortion issue and, as the record shows, I have voted to confirm Chief Justice Rehnquist, Justice O’Connor, and Justice Kennedy and led the fight to confirm Justice Thomas.
“I have already sponsored a protocol calling for a Judiciary Committee hearing within thirty days of a nomination, a vote out of Committee thirty days later, and floor action thirty days after that. I am committed to such prompt action by the Committee on all of President Bush’s nominees.
“In light of the repeated filibusters by the Democrats in the last Senate session, I am concerned about a potential repetition of such filibusters. I expect to work well with President Bush in the judicial confirmation process in the years ahead.”
I assume the word came down from the White House to Sen. Specter that he simply wouldn't be Chairman if that were his attitude.
Then we have the incident we noted yesterday in which Sen. Frist may, at the president's say-so, change the cloture rules which require 60 votes to push through legislation.
Past presidents have usually had to deal with Majority Leaders who were much more solicitous of their chamber's independence and institutional preogatives. But then again, President Bush all but appointed Frist to his post. So this should not surprise us.
There's even an element of parliamentarism in President Bush's post-election comments about his mandate and his right to expect others to fall in line behind views because he won a majority, even if a small one, at the ballot box.
It's fine to bemoan this. And there's much to bemoan. But Democrats also need to learn how to live with it, at least for the next four years. And that means realizing that for at least the next two years, the President can get passed almost anything he wants to. His congressional majorities are now sufficiently padded that he can even afford a few Republican defections. He simply doesn't need Democrats for anything.
And that means approaching most legislative battles not with an eye toward preventing passage or significantly altering legislation, but placing alternatives on the table that the party will be able use as contrasts to frame the next two elections. In other words, their only remaining viable alternative is to be an actual party of opposition.
-- Josh Marshall
A "liberal Democratic Thelogian"?
Gary Hart (Hart holds law and divinity degrees from Yale University and completed his undergraduate studies, with emphasis in theology and philosophy, at Southern Nazarene University.) talks about the place of religion in politics
Sunday, November 07, 2004
More accurate red/blue maps
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/
A collection of maps drawn along population/voting boundaries not geographical ones.
A collection of maps drawn along population/voting boundaries not geographical ones.
Here's what you Red States voted for
Apparently the Zealots are now running the Country. GOD help us.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The head of a leading conservative group said Sunday that Sen. Arlen Specter "is a big-time problem" and that his quest to serve as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee "must be derailed."
The comments from James Dobson, founder of the nonprofit Christian organization Focus on the Family, came four days after the moderate Republican from Pennsylvania told reporters that any Supreme Court nominee intent on overturning Roe v. Wade probably would not win Senate approval.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/11/07/specter.judiciary/
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The head of a leading conservative group said Sunday that Sen. Arlen Specter "is a big-time problem" and that his quest to serve as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee "must be derailed."
The comments from James Dobson, founder of the nonprofit Christian organization Focus on the Family, came four days after the moderate Republican from Pennsylvania told reporters that any Supreme Court nominee intent on overturning Roe v. Wade probably would not win Senate approval.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/11/07/specter.judiciary/
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Predictions
Somewhere in the next few months, it will come out that the Diebold voting machines screwed up some of the counts in the election.
Colin Powell will resign before March 2005.
Dick Cheney will step down, officially for Health reasons, but the Halliburton contract is going to play large in the move.
The will be a fight in the GOP between the moderates and the Rovian Zealots (although I don't think Rove is a zealot, he'd do anything to get his candidate to win, a modern day Earl of Warwick).
The Democratic Party will regroup and start acting a little more like the GOP, no more Mr. Nice Guy. A little more Michael Moore swagger (without the hysteria).
I will continue to support the Libertarians as that's where I stand politically.
Colin Powell will resign before March 2005.
Dick Cheney will step down, officially for Health reasons, but the Halliburton contract is going to play large in the move.
The will be a fight in the GOP between the moderates and the Rovian Zealots (although I don't think Rove is a zealot, he'd do anything to get his candidate to win, a modern day Earl of Warwick).
The Democratic Party will regroup and start acting a little more like the GOP, no more Mr. Nice Guy. A little more Michael Moore swagger (without the hysteria).
I will continue to support the Libertarians as that's where I stand politically.
The Long National Nightmare will go on for four more years
Last night I was mad...shocked and Mad. How could America re-elect this guy? There's so much. Huge Deficits, tax breaks for corporations, a net loss in jobs, the disaster in post-war Iraq, bin Laden is still alive and making videos, Halliburton, etc. etc. etc.
This morning...heartbroken.
As the day wore on determined and rationalizing.
So, now I go back and forth between disgust and disbelief. The disgust is not just the Bush (I guess I shouldn't say "re-election" as he did come in 2nd last time...) "election", but that 11 states including my own are so homophobic that they won't allow gays to marry.
Yet, not one, NOT ONE, of these zealots has been able to tell me why they care if I'm married or if my neighbors are married or not married. I don't care if you're married or to whom you get married, I've still got to get up and go to work in the morning. Anyway that's another subject.
it looks like it's still two Americas...and I don't know what the hell is going on in Red America, but it ain't pretty.
This morning...heartbroken.
As the day wore on determined and rationalizing.
So, now I go back and forth between disgust and disbelief. The disgust is not just the Bush (I guess I shouldn't say "re-election" as he did come in 2nd last time...) "election", but that 11 states including my own are so homophobic that they won't allow gays to marry.
Yet, not one, NOT ONE, of these zealots has been able to tell me why they care if I'm married or if my neighbors are married or not married. I don't care if you're married or to whom you get married, I've still got to get up and go to work in the morning. Anyway that's another subject.
it looks like it's still two Americas...and I don't know what the hell is going on in Red America, but it ain't pretty.
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
The long national nightmare continues
So, it's not looking good here at 10PM PST. Another 4 years of Bush, unconstrained by the threat of re-election. Can you say Theocracy?
I weep for America.
But you idiots voted for him, you get what you deserve.
I weep for America.
But you idiots voted for him, you get what you deserve.
Monday, November 01, 2004
Another Bushie hypocrite exposed
First, it was the arbiter of American Values with a little Gambling issue
Then Mr. Law and Order Radio host turns out to be a junky
And no Mr. No-Spin Zone turns out to be a perv.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6357736/
Tough couple of years to be a partisan hack for the Bushies
Then Mr. Law and Order Radio host turns out to be a junky
And no Mr. No-Spin Zone turns out to be a perv.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6357736/
Tough couple of years to be a partisan hack for the Bushies
When will the Rovites began the destruction of this woman?
Halliburton objected to?
How soon before Drudge is running that this woman had a baby out of wedlock with a gay communist Frenchman?
How soon before Drudge is running that this woman had a baby out of wedlock with a gay communist Frenchman?
Making America safer, one Rubik's cube at a time
From the Oregonian:
Feds create puzzle not found on toy shelf
The owner of Pufferbelly Toys in St. Helens worries when Homeland Security agents show up on official business
Thursday, October 28, 2004
ASHBEL S. GREEN
Nothing about running a small store called Pufferbelly Toys prepared Stephanie Cox for a cryptic phone call from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
"It's all very surreal, quite honestly," Cox said Wednesday. "I thought it was a prank when I first heard. I couldn't understand why Homeland Security would be investigating a tiny toy store in St. Helens."
The call came in late July or early August. A man identifying himself as a federal Homeland Security agent said he needed to talk to Cox at her store.
Cox asked what it was all about.
"He said he was not at liberty to discuss that," she said.
They agreed to meet in early August, but the agent later canceled. Cox thought the matter had blown over when the agent called back Sept. 9 to say he was coming out there.
"I was shaking in my shoes," said Cox, who has owned Pufferbelly Toys for more than four years. "My first thought was the government can shut your business down on a whim, in my opinion. If I'm closed even for a day that would cause undue stress."
The next day, two men arrived at the store and showed Cox their badges. The lead agent asked Cox whether she carried a toy called the Magic Cube. She said yes. The Magic Cube, he said, was an illegal copy of the Rubik's Cube, one of the most popular toys of all time. He told her to remove the Magic Cube from her shelves, and he watched to make sure she complied.
The whole thing took about 10 minutes.
After the agents left, Cox called the manufacturer of the Magic Cube, the Toysmith Group, which is based in Auburn, Wash. A representative told her that the Homeland Security agents had it wrong. The Rubik's Cube patent had expired, and the Magic Cube did not infringe on rival toy's trademark.
John Ryan, corporate counsel for the Toysmith Group, said Homeland Security, which includes Customs, routinely blocks shipments of products from overseas that violate intellectual property rights, such as patents, copyrights and trademarks.
"That's fine. That's not an outrageous federal act by any means," Ryan said. "But we certainly were surprised that a federal agent approached a toy store owner and frightened them."
Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said agents went to Pufferbelly based on a trademark infringement complaint filed in the agency's intellectual property rights center in Washington, D.C.
Kice also said Homeland Security officials routinely investigate such complaints and follow up if they determine they are valid.
"One of the things that our agency's responsible for doing is protecting the integrity of the economy and our nation's financial systems and obviously trademark infringement does have significant economic implications," she said.
After gaining assurances from Toysmith officials, Cox put the Magic Cube back on the shelf soon after the agents left.
Six weeks after her brush with Homeland Security, Cox is still scratching her head.
"Aren't there any terrorists out there?" she said.
Feds create puzzle not found on toy shelf
The owner of Pufferbelly Toys in St. Helens worries when Homeland Security agents show up on official business
Thursday, October 28, 2004
ASHBEL S. GREEN
Nothing about running a small store called Pufferbelly Toys prepared Stephanie Cox for a cryptic phone call from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
"It's all very surreal, quite honestly," Cox said Wednesday. "I thought it was a prank when I first heard. I couldn't understand why Homeland Security would be investigating a tiny toy store in St. Helens."
The call came in late July or early August. A man identifying himself as a federal Homeland Security agent said he needed to talk to Cox at her store.
Cox asked what it was all about.
"He said he was not at liberty to discuss that," she said.
They agreed to meet in early August, but the agent later canceled. Cox thought the matter had blown over when the agent called back Sept. 9 to say he was coming out there.
"I was shaking in my shoes," said Cox, who has owned Pufferbelly Toys for more than four years. "My first thought was the government can shut your business down on a whim, in my opinion. If I'm closed even for a day that would cause undue stress."
The next day, two men arrived at the store and showed Cox their badges. The lead agent asked Cox whether she carried a toy called the Magic Cube. She said yes. The Magic Cube, he said, was an illegal copy of the Rubik's Cube, one of the most popular toys of all time. He told her to remove the Magic Cube from her shelves, and he watched to make sure she complied.
The whole thing took about 10 minutes.
After the agents left, Cox called the manufacturer of the Magic Cube, the Toysmith Group, which is based in Auburn, Wash. A representative told her that the Homeland Security agents had it wrong. The Rubik's Cube patent had expired, and the Magic Cube did not infringe on rival toy's trademark.
John Ryan, corporate counsel for the Toysmith Group, said Homeland Security, which includes Customs, routinely blocks shipments of products from overseas that violate intellectual property rights, such as patents, copyrights and trademarks.
"That's fine. That's not an outrageous federal act by any means," Ryan said. "But we certainly were surprised that a federal agent approached a toy store owner and frightened them."
Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said agents went to Pufferbelly based on a trademark infringement complaint filed in the agency's intellectual property rights center in Washington, D.C.
Kice also said Homeland Security officials routinely investigate such complaints and follow up if they determine they are valid.
"One of the things that our agency's responsible for doing is protecting the integrity of the economy and our nation's financial systems and obviously trademark infringement does have significant economic implications," she said.
After gaining assurances from Toysmith officials, Cox put the Magic Cube back on the shelf soon after the agents left.
Six weeks after her brush with Homeland Security, Cox is still scratching her head.
"Aren't there any terrorists out there?" she said.
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Worst Compilation EVER
Now, we’ve all seen some pretty unnecessary compilations in our day…but this one might be the worst of all.
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0002858ZW.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
you can buy it here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002858ZW/qid=1098936358/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-1944277-9227126?v=glance&s=music&n=507846
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0002858ZW.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
you can buy it here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002858ZW/qid=1098936358/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-1944277-9227126?v=glance&s=music&n=507846
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Monday, October 25, 2004
STOP THIS (INSERT TEAM NAME HERE) Nation Crap
First it was Raider Nation, then (being in Oregon) it's Beaver nation. I just read a story about "Gator Nation", in a story about Mr. Zook.
STOP THE NONSENSE.
NO MORE XNation anything.
Add this to this list of things that annoy me...along with
People who say "Literally" when they REALLY MEAN "Virtually"...No one EVER "Literally loses their mind" or "literally froze their ass off".
People who say SAMwich when they mean SANDwich.
OH, there's more, but this will do.
STOP THE NONSENSE.
NO MORE XNation anything.
Add this to this list of things that annoy me...along with
People who say "Literally" when they REALLY MEAN "Virtually"...No one EVER "Literally loses their mind" or "literally froze their ass off".
People who say SAMwich when they mean SANDwich.
OH, there's more, but this will do.
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
First Putin, Now Iran
Monday, October 18, 2004
Detached from Reality...AGAIN
Thompson denies Flu Shot shortage is crisis:
How many more people will die this year because they didn’t get shots?
Kerry blew it on this question in the 3rd debate. He should have hammered the President on his opposition to drugs from Canada because we don’t want out drugs coming from a “3rd world Country” when Half of the medicine that saves 10s of thousands of life every year comes from England. Kerry also should have hammered the president when he tried to give the FDA credit for closing the factory in England, and then launced into why the FDA under Bush ordered scientists to SHUT UP about dangers of VIOXX.
SHAMEFUL.
How many more people will die this year because they didn’t get shots?
Kerry blew it on this question in the 3rd debate. He should have hammered the President on his opposition to drugs from Canada because we don’t want out drugs coming from a “3rd world Country” when Half of the medicine that saves 10s of thousands of life every year comes from England. Kerry also should have hammered the president when he tried to give the FDA credit for closing the factory in England, and then launced into why the FDA under Bush ordered scientists to SHUT UP about dangers of VIOXX.
SHAMEFUL.
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Banner Day for Bush
Record Deficit:
Government spending for the year ended September 30 rose 6.2 per cent to $US2.29 trillion, swamping income, which climbed 5.5 per cent to $US1.88 trillion, the Treasury Department said.
The result: the deficit mushroomed 9.5 per cent from the previous year to $US413 billion, equal to 3.6 per cent of total economic output, or gross domestic product (GDP).
Trade Deficit:
The Commerce Department said the August trade deficit in goods and services was 6.9 percent higher than a $50.5 billion imbalance in July. A small 0.1 percent rise in exports was dwarfed by a 2.5 percent jump in imports. For the year, America's trade deficit is running at a record annual rate of $590 billion, 19 percent higher than the previous record, last year's $496.5 billion imbalance.
Job Claims UP:
In a second economic report, the Labor Department said the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose by 15,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted level of 352,000. The four-week moving average of claims, which smooths out weekly changes, rose by 4,000 to a seven-month high of 352,000.
Treasury Dept. to use Enron Accounting to cover it's ass: Here too.
WASHINGTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department suspended investments in a federal employee pension fund on Thursday to keep the government below its borrowing limit, Treasury Secretary John Snow said in a letter to Congress.
Snow said payments to the $56 billion Federal Employee Retirement System's Government Securities Investment Fund, known as the G-fund, would be restored once Congress raises the $7.384 trillion debt ceiling.
Nukes flew out of Iraq. (Nice work...don't you feel safer?)
The United Nations nuclear watchdog told the Security Council this week that equipment and materials that could be used to make atomic weapons had been vanishing from Iraq without either Baghdad or Washington noticing.
"This process carried on at least through 2003 ... and probably into 2004, at least in early 2004," said a Western diplomat close to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which monitored Iraq's nuclear sites before last year's war.
Government spending for the year ended September 30 rose 6.2 per cent to $US2.29 trillion, swamping income, which climbed 5.5 per cent to $US1.88 trillion, the Treasury Department said.
The result: the deficit mushroomed 9.5 per cent from the previous year to $US413 billion, equal to 3.6 per cent of total economic output, or gross domestic product (GDP).
Trade Deficit:
The Commerce Department said the August trade deficit in goods and services was 6.9 percent higher than a $50.5 billion imbalance in July. A small 0.1 percent rise in exports was dwarfed by a 2.5 percent jump in imports. For the year, America's trade deficit is running at a record annual rate of $590 billion, 19 percent higher than the previous record, last year's $496.5 billion imbalance.
Job Claims UP:
In a second economic report, the Labor Department said the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose by 15,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted level of 352,000. The four-week moving average of claims, which smooths out weekly changes, rose by 4,000 to a seven-month high of 352,000.
Treasury Dept. to use Enron Accounting to cover it's ass: Here too.
WASHINGTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department suspended investments in a federal employee pension fund on Thursday to keep the government below its borrowing limit, Treasury Secretary John Snow said in a letter to Congress.
Snow said payments to the $56 billion Federal Employee Retirement System's Government Securities Investment Fund, known as the G-fund, would be restored once Congress raises the $7.384 trillion debt ceiling.
Nukes flew out of Iraq. (Nice work...don't you feel safer?)
The United Nations nuclear watchdog told the Security Council this week that equipment and materials that could be used to make atomic weapons had been vanishing from Iraq without either Baghdad or Washington noticing.
"This process carried on at least through 2003 ... and probably into 2004, at least in early 2004," said a Western diplomat close to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which monitored Iraq's nuclear sites before last year's war.
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
I wish Business was run more like the Federal Govt
I can probably assure you that if anyone at my company (large Multinational) spent half a million dollars on a party to honor 500 people, (though I doubt it would happen), they would be fired. And we are a company that does spend a decent amount on recognition and awards and not only that, but we NET a couple of Billion dollars every 3 months.
I wonder how much bomb sniffing technology $500K will buy?
AP: Report Finds Lavish Spending at TSA
By LESLIE MILLER Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - The government agency in charge of airport security spent nearly a half-million dollars on an awards ceremony at a lavish hotel, including $81,000 for plaques and $500 for cheese displays, according to an internal report obtained by The Associated Press.
Awards were presented to 543 Transportation Security Administration employees and 30 organizations, including a "lifetime achievement award" for one worker with the 2-year-old agency. Almost $200,000 was spent on travel and lodging for attendees.
The investigation by the Homeland Security Department's inspector general, Clark Kent Ervin, also found the TSA gave its senior executives bonuses averaging $16,000, higher than at any other federal government agency, and failed to provide adequate justification in more than a third of the 88 cases examined.
The report said lower-level employees were shortchanged, with a far lower percentage receiving bonuses.
"A substantial inequity exists in TSA's performance recognition program between executive and non-executive employees," the report said.
TSA spokeswoman Amy von Walter said the agency believes the bonuses and party were justified "given the hours and productivity of the work force during this critical period."
This year, said von Walter, the TSA will conduct awards ceremonies at individual airports, as well as a much smaller and less expensive event at its headquarters in November.
Congressional skeptics have criticized the TSA's hiring and spending practices during its short existence. Republicans say the agency has grown far larger than they envisioned when it was created following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Ervin also is investigating why the agency's private recruiters worked out of lush resort hotels with golf courses, pools and spas.
Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said that he had not seen the full report but that it indicated "a colossal waste of money."
"There's something terribly wrong with that agency," Dorgan said. "Of all the agencies, that's the one that's supposed to be working full-time against terrorist attacks."
The awards banquet, which cost $461,745, was held at the Grand Hyatt, which bills itself as "one of the most magnificent" hotels in the nation's capital. According to the report, the agency chose that site because it was the only hotel available on Nov. 19, 2003, the agency's second anniversary. It also was one of the few places that could accommodate about 600 honorees and as many guests.
While the inspector general noted the agency sought competitive bids for the party planner and chose the company with the lowest estimate, it found the "costs of the ceremony and reception were higher than necessary."
The event planning company, MarCom Group Inc. of Fairfax, Va., was paid $85,552 for its work and given an additional $81,767 for plaques, $5,196 for official photographs, $1,486 for three balloon arches and $1,509 for signs.
The reception included finger food, coffee and cake that averaged $33 per person. Seven cakes cost a total of $1,850; three cheese displays, $1,500.
In a written response, the TSA said the costs "were neither extraordinary nor incurred without careful consideration of the amount, the reasonableness of the cost, and value the activities would have to the employees."
The inspector general also expressed concern that the TSA was more generous than most other federal agencies in awarding bonuses to executives. Federal agencies on average gave cash awards to 49 percent of their executives in 2002, while 76 percent of TSA executives received them in 2003.
The inspector general reviewed 88 employees' files and found that 38 percent "had no individual recommendation and justification for the performance award."
"The legitimacy of such large awards is called into question by the lack of an appropriate selection process and the reliance on boilerplate justifications that could be applicable to anyone," the report said.
The report also noted that fewer than 3 percent of nonexecutive employees received bonuses in 2003.
In its response, the TSA said that executives who got a bonus didn't get a pay increase and weren't eligible for a presidential awards program that can amount to as much as 35 percent of their base pay. The agency agreed, however, that more could be done to equalize treatment of top executives and lower-level employees.
I wonder how much bomb sniffing technology $500K will buy?
AP: Report Finds Lavish Spending at TSA
By LESLIE MILLER Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - The government agency in charge of airport security spent nearly a half-million dollars on an awards ceremony at a lavish hotel, including $81,000 for plaques and $500 for cheese displays, according to an internal report obtained by The Associated Press.
Awards were presented to 543 Transportation Security Administration employees and 30 organizations, including a "lifetime achievement award" for one worker with the 2-year-old agency. Almost $200,000 was spent on travel and lodging for attendees.
The investigation by the Homeland Security Department's inspector general, Clark Kent Ervin, also found the TSA gave its senior executives bonuses averaging $16,000, higher than at any other federal government agency, and failed to provide adequate justification in more than a third of the 88 cases examined.
The report said lower-level employees were shortchanged, with a far lower percentage receiving bonuses.
"A substantial inequity exists in TSA's performance recognition program between executive and non-executive employees," the report said.
TSA spokeswoman Amy von Walter said the agency believes the bonuses and party were justified "given the hours and productivity of the work force during this critical period."
This year, said von Walter, the TSA will conduct awards ceremonies at individual airports, as well as a much smaller and less expensive event at its headquarters in November.
Congressional skeptics have criticized the TSA's hiring and spending practices during its short existence. Republicans say the agency has grown far larger than they envisioned when it was created following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Ervin also is investigating why the agency's private recruiters worked out of lush resort hotels with golf courses, pools and spas.
Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said that he had not seen the full report but that it indicated "a colossal waste of money."
"There's something terribly wrong with that agency," Dorgan said. "Of all the agencies, that's the one that's supposed to be working full-time against terrorist attacks."
The awards banquet, which cost $461,745, was held at the Grand Hyatt, which bills itself as "one of the most magnificent" hotels in the nation's capital. According to the report, the agency chose that site because it was the only hotel available on Nov. 19, 2003, the agency's second anniversary. It also was one of the few places that could accommodate about 600 honorees and as many guests.
While the inspector general noted the agency sought competitive bids for the party planner and chose the company with the lowest estimate, it found the "costs of the ceremony and reception were higher than necessary."
The event planning company, MarCom Group Inc. of Fairfax, Va., was paid $85,552 for its work and given an additional $81,767 for plaques, $5,196 for official photographs, $1,486 for three balloon arches and $1,509 for signs.
The reception included finger food, coffee and cake that averaged $33 per person. Seven cakes cost a total of $1,850; three cheese displays, $1,500.
In a written response, the TSA said the costs "were neither extraordinary nor incurred without careful consideration of the amount, the reasonableness of the cost, and value the activities would have to the employees."
The inspector general also expressed concern that the TSA was more generous than most other federal agencies in awarding bonuses to executives. Federal agencies on average gave cash awards to 49 percent of their executives in 2002, while 76 percent of TSA executives received them in 2003.
The inspector general reviewed 88 employees' files and found that 38 percent "had no individual recommendation and justification for the performance award."
"The legitimacy of such large awards is called into question by the lack of an appropriate selection process and the reliance on boilerplate justifications that could be applicable to anyone," the report said.
The report also noted that fewer than 3 percent of nonexecutive employees received bonuses in 2003.
In its response, the TSA said that executives who got a bonus didn't get a pay increase and weren't eligible for a presidential awards program that can amount to as much as 35 percent of their base pay. The agency agreed, however, that more could be done to equalize treatment of top executives and lower-level employees.
Monday, October 11, 2004
Shameful
The Bush Propaganda Machine is at it again.
prop·a·gan·da ( P ) Pronunciation Key (pr p -g n d )n.
The systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or cause.
Material disseminated by the advocates or opponents of a doctrine or cause: wartime propaganda.
prop·a·gan·da ( P ) Pronunciation Key (pr p -g n d )n.
The systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or cause.
Material disseminated by the advocates or opponents of a doctrine or cause: wartime propaganda.
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Do NASCAR track owners need a break? NASCAR is the most lucrative sporting industry in America (maybe the world). GE? They need some help? Please.
I also understand that Starbucks is getting a tax break, which pisses me off since the price of my drink went up 20 cents on Wednesday (Which caused me to realize that I can eat LUNCH at Taco Bell...and who doesn't love some Taco Bell...for the same price as my coffee).
The tobacco one baffles me. Didn’t various governments in the US spend millions suing them and don’t they pay the states and the Feds money, so does that mean we (citizens) are funding their penalties?
Anyway, here's the link
http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/3281840/c_3281847?f=home_todayinfinance
The 633-page bill features 276 separate provisions, reported the Washington Post, including tax breaks for Alaskan whalers, NASCAR track owners, importers of Chinese ceiling fans, and gamblers from overseas. Other provisions, according to the Associated Press, would reduce excise taxes on the sale of bows and arrows, fishing-tackle boxes, and sonar fish finders.
General Electric Co. would receive hundreds of millions of dollars in benefits from a 10-year, $7.9 billion provision that would simplify how U.S. taxes are calculated on overseas profits, the Post pointed out. A related provision would grant companies with substantial overseas earnings a temporary tax holiday, during which they could bring those profits home at a discounted tax rate of 5.25 percent.
The most controversial tax break approved by the conference committee is likely the $10.1 billion in payments to tobacco farmers, related to a quota system that governs how much tobacco can be grown each year, noted the AP. The preliminary plan omits a Senate proposal that would link the tobacco buyout to regulation of the industry by the Food and Drug Administration. "What the conferees have done is remove the lynchpin in the passage of this legislation in a complete sellout to the tobacco companies," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), according to the wire service.
I also understand that Starbucks is getting a tax break, which pisses me off since the price of my drink went up 20 cents on Wednesday (Which caused me to realize that I can eat LUNCH at Taco Bell...and who doesn't love some Taco Bell...for the same price as my coffee).
The tobacco one baffles me. Didn’t various governments in the US spend millions suing them and don’t they pay the states and the Feds money, so does that mean we (citizens) are funding their penalties?
Anyway, here's the link
http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/3281840/c_3281847?f=home_todayinfinance
The 633-page bill features 276 separate provisions, reported the Washington Post, including tax breaks for Alaskan whalers, NASCAR track owners, importers of Chinese ceiling fans, and gamblers from overseas. Other provisions, according to the Associated Press, would reduce excise taxes on the sale of bows and arrows, fishing-tackle boxes, and sonar fish finders.
General Electric Co. would receive hundreds of millions of dollars in benefits from a 10-year, $7.9 billion provision that would simplify how U.S. taxes are calculated on overseas profits, the Post pointed out. A related provision would grant companies with substantial overseas earnings a temporary tax holiday, during which they could bring those profits home at a discounted tax rate of 5.25 percent.
The most controversial tax break approved by the conference committee is likely the $10.1 billion in payments to tobacco farmers, related to a quota system that governs how much tobacco can be grown each year, noted the AP. The preliminary plan omits a Senate proposal that would link the tobacco buyout to regulation of the industry by the Food and Drug Administration. "What the conferees have done is remove the lynchpin in the passage of this legislation in a complete sellout to the tobacco companies," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), according to the wire service.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
My letter to Nightline
I find it shameful that ABC NEWS and Nightline continue to accept the GOP distortions about the "Global Test" comments, and allow them to go unchallenged by even your own correspondents. When in fact, Kerry said exactly the opposite. Once again, THe Daily Show proves to be a better journalistic outlet than Nightline. Are you so fearful of what the GOP did to Dan Rather that you will let a blatant lie/mischaracterization of the statements of Senator Kerry that you will not challenge them.
YOu have a responsibility to America, it's time you lived up to it
YOu have a responsibility to America, it's time you lived up to it
It's not the flip flop that's appalling
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6185393/site/newsweek/
Bush supports torture, but the next day he doesn't...does he get points for that flip flop or should we all be appalled that he supports tortue on some days at all.
Bush supports torture, but the next day he doesn't...does he get points for that flip flop or should we all be appalled that he supports tortue on some days at all.
Monday, October 04, 2004
Another former Bushie criticizes the administration
Why does Paul Bremer hate Freedom (America, etc)?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6180514/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6180514/
Thursday, September 30, 2004
More documents?
More Docs about Bush's service released:
Isn’t this about the 25th times that the WH has said that “NOW, we have released all the documents that exist about this matter”.
Again, it’s not a big deal the docs themselves, but the constant inability to either tell the truth or to know the truth. Incompetence or Deception?
Isn’t this about the 25th times that the WH has said that “NOW, we have released all the documents that exist about this matter”.
Again, it’s not a big deal the docs themselves, but the constant inability to either tell the truth or to know the truth. Incompetence or Deception?
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
The "liberal media" really missing this story
“Insurgents in Iraq have launched more than 2,300 attacks on civilians and military personnel in the last 30 days, according to a report by Special Operations Consulting-Security Management Group Inc.”
That’s two thousand three hundred…in the past THIRTY DAYS.
From watching the media that Bush and Allawi claim is not portraying the reality in Iraq, I guess they were right. I had NO IDEA that there around 80 attacks PER DAY…NO IDEA.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/5005886.html
That’s two thousand three hundred…in the past THIRTY DAYS.
From watching the media that Bush and Allawi claim is not portraying the reality in Iraq, I guess they were right. I had NO IDEA that there around 80 attacks PER DAY…NO IDEA.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/5005886.html
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Am I rationalizing or have I lost hope
Had an email "discussion" with a colleague of mine today, he's a Bushie. He's main news sources seem to be Hannity and wherever Hannity tells him to look. Anywho, we debated various opinions, he denied a few facts, but this is common among the Bushies, who I honestly believe have to fool themselves into supporting a man who stand for nothing and will lie about anything Rove instructs him to. But, I digress. So, he points out a few of the polls out today showing Bush continuing with a lead. I don't buy the polls much, but I do think the Bush probably has a lead today...Although I'm at a loss to understand it. Iraq, the economy, just what has he done for America? Somehow the discussion gets to the Popular Vote in 2000 and this Bushie vehemently denies that Gore won the popular vote. Not just talking about the "election" but the actual popular vote. So, I go to the FEC website where I see, Yup, Gore still won the Popular vote.
So, I ask myself, and some other anti-Bushies, how can you argue with (or better yet, show the error of their ways) a group of people who are so detached from reality. Is this what Fox News was wrought? How do you argue the finer points of deficit spending or Medicare with someone who BELIEVES Bush won the popular vote?
These are the people who are voting for Bush. This is where I think I lost hope. There is a part of me that has crept into my thinking in recent days that I want Bush to win so that he can deal with all the Bullshit he has created over the past 4 years. Crappy economy, deficit, fixing Iraq, dealing with terrorism, Iran and North Korea, helping in Sudan, education, etc. But, he's not going to fix it, it will get worse. (I do think that the upside to a Bush win is that the GOP won't see the WH for another 12 years after the Bush disasters that await us). I think, can Kerry (or anyone) fix the mess Bush has created in 4 years? Since that's probably not likely, let Bush take the fall for his own incompetence.
Have I resigned myself to four more disastrous years of Bush, a President who won't have to worry about re-election and can therefore ruin America even more? Have I lost hope in Kerry's lame campaign (watching Howard Dean on Charlie Rose did nothing to lift my spirits about Kerry's unspirited campaign). I watch Scarborough and the Fox News hacks continue to pound away about CBS. I watch Kerry give a speech where he finally says things he should have said months ago about homeland security, Iraq, etc. Intelligent things, factual things. But, the "liberal media" doesn't pick up on it.
So, anyway, I have a sinking feeling. I cry for America tonight. I just hope I don't cry again on Nov. 3.
So, I ask myself, and some other anti-Bushies, how can you argue with (or better yet, show the error of their ways) a group of people who are so detached from reality. Is this what Fox News was wrought? How do you argue the finer points of deficit spending or Medicare with someone who BELIEVES Bush won the popular vote?
These are the people who are voting for Bush. This is where I think I lost hope. There is a part of me that has crept into my thinking in recent days that I want Bush to win so that he can deal with all the Bullshit he has created over the past 4 years. Crappy economy, deficit, fixing Iraq, dealing with terrorism, Iran and North Korea, helping in Sudan, education, etc. But, he's not going to fix it, it will get worse. (I do think that the upside to a Bush win is that the GOP won't see the WH for another 12 years after the Bush disasters that await us). I think, can Kerry (or anyone) fix the mess Bush has created in 4 years? Since that's probably not likely, let Bush take the fall for his own incompetence.
Have I resigned myself to four more disastrous years of Bush, a President who won't have to worry about re-election and can therefore ruin America even more? Have I lost hope in Kerry's lame campaign (watching Howard Dean on Charlie Rose did nothing to lift my spirits about Kerry's unspirited campaign). I watch Scarborough and the Fox News hacks continue to pound away about CBS. I watch Kerry give a speech where he finally says things he should have said months ago about homeland security, Iraq, etc. Intelligent things, factual things. But, the "liberal media" doesn't pick up on it.
So, anyway, I have a sinking feeling. I cry for America tonight. I just hope I don't cry again on Nov. 3.
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
There you have it
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/09/15/guard.memos.congress/index.html
She didn’t type the memos, but the information contained in them is correct. (I can’t wait to hear how this woman is credible on one part and a liar on the other)
"But Marian Carr Knox, a former Texas Air National Guard secretary, said she did type similar documents for her boss, Lt. Col. Jerry Killian.
"I know that I didn't type them. However, the information in those is correct," Knox told CBS anchor Dan Rather."
AND HERE”S SOME NERVE:
"House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, said he collected signatures from 39 colleagues on a letter sent to the network calling for a retraction and asking CBS News to reveal the source of the documents."
As Stewart pointed out in last night’s “Douchebag of Liberty” segment: Maybe if Congress is going to demand sources, it should demand that Novak reveal who committed a Federal Crime by leaking the name of a CIA agent.
FREAKIN” Hypocrites.
She didn’t type the memos, but the information contained in them is correct. (I can’t wait to hear how this woman is credible on one part and a liar on the other)
"But Marian Carr Knox, a former Texas Air National Guard secretary, said she did type similar documents for her boss, Lt. Col. Jerry Killian.
"I know that I didn't type them. However, the information in those is correct," Knox told CBS anchor Dan Rather."
AND HERE”S SOME NERVE:
"House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, said he collected signatures from 39 colleagues on a letter sent to the network calling for a retraction and asking CBS News to reveal the source of the documents."
As Stewart pointed out in last night’s “Douchebag of Liberty” segment: Maybe if Congress is going to demand sources, it should demand that Novak reveal who committed a Federal Crime by leaking the name of a CIA agent.
FREAKIN” Hypocrites.
Sunday, September 12, 2004
Hearts and Minds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1303127,00.html
I saw a British paper refer to this as a “slaughter”. Also read a Pakistani paper that calls out the brutality of the US troops. I wonder how many terrorists this little incident makes? I don’t fault the US troops one bit, they are doing what Bush sent them there to do. Bush is the one creating more terrorists. And when this plays in the Arab press it dosen’t matter if they are insurgents, terrorists, or innocents. They will all be matyrs.
I absolutely love this quote: (Mr. Orwell, Mr. Heller meet the US Military)
Earlier, the US military had said a helicopter destroyed the vehicle "to prevent looting and harm to the Iraqi people", after four US soldiers were wounded in the attack on the Bradley.
“to prevent harm to the Iraqi people”…we blew them up. WOW.
I saw a British paper refer to this as a “slaughter”. Also read a Pakistani paper that calls out the brutality of the US troops. I wonder how many terrorists this little incident makes? I don’t fault the US troops one bit, they are doing what Bush sent them there to do. Bush is the one creating more terrorists. And when this plays in the Arab press it dosen’t matter if they are insurgents, terrorists, or innocents. They will all be matyrs.
I absolutely love this quote: (Mr. Orwell, Mr. Heller meet the US Military)
Earlier, the US military had said a helicopter destroyed the vehicle "to prevent looting and harm to the Iraqi people", after four US soldiers were wounded in the attack on the Bradley.
“to prevent harm to the Iraqi people”…we blew them up. WOW.
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
I must have misspoke...priceless
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5943420/
Bush spokesman Dan Bartlett told the Washington Post in 1999 that the future president had served at a Boston-area Air Force Reserve unit after leaving Houston. But Bush never joined a Boston-area unit, the Globe said.
“I must have misspoke,” Bartlett, now White House communications director, was quoted as telling the Globe in a recent interview.
Is that how it works for the Bushies? You can lie and then just say “I misspoke”. Clinton and Nixon misspoke too, I guess. Or does this special divine hallpass to lie all the time only extend to the Bush White House? The pathetic thing is the “liberal” media lets these liars get away with this crap every day.
Bush spokesman Dan Bartlett told the Washington Post in 1999 that the future president had served at a Boston-area Air Force Reserve unit after leaving Houston. But Bush never joined a Boston-area unit, the Globe said.
“I must have misspoke,” Bartlett, now White House communications director, was quoted as telling the Globe in a recent interview.
Is that how it works for the Bushies? You can lie and then just say “I misspoke”. Clinton and Nixon misspoke too, I guess. Or does this special divine hallpass to lie all the time only extend to the Bush White House? The pathetic thing is the “liberal” media lets these liars get away with this crap every day.
Saturday, September 04, 2004
Russia
I sit here getting more and more angry over the news in Russia. As a father, seeing pictures of murdered children who are the same age as mine fills me with rage. 9/11 horrified me, the bombings in Madrid left me in disbelief, this latest act of Terrorism angers me.
No matter the Chechens case for their anger at Russia, killing children is not futhering the cause. World opinion is against them now and would anyone shed a tear for them if Putin unleashed the full brunt of the Russian people on who ever is associated with this act?
Methinks not.
No matter the Chechens case for their anger at Russia, killing children is not futhering the cause. World opinion is against them now and would anyone shed a tear for them if Putin unleashed the full brunt of the Russian people on who ever is associated with this act?
Methinks not.
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Outfoxed...
I just finished watching "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's war on journalism "and I must say it was enjoyable. I mean it's not really anything new, it's just proof from insiders that show the bias that everyone knows is there.
About halfway through it, I realized the Fox News is a little like the WWF used to be. Everyone knew wrestling was fake, but they would insist that it was real...that was part of the fun. Unfortunately, too many Americans think Fox is a NEWS network, but it's really 99% commentary. I wouldn't mind if Fox came out of the closet, admitted it was a tool of the GOP and went on entertaining, but people who will vote in this country think Sean Hannity is a journalist, and that is frightening.
So, I think there is a commanility here. People who thought the old WWF was real, think Fox is a News Network...these are very likely the same demographic.
I just wish Murdoch and Ailes would take a lesson from Vince McMahon. Come out of the closet, embrace your commentary/opinon only style and stop pretending to be real. The new WWE is making tons of money these days, probably more popular than ever, it's the same product that it was before but now we appreciate it for its campiness.
Come to think of it, Fox News and WWE do have a lot in common. The both involved pretty people shouting at each other a lot with not a lot of substance to any of it, and the producers know the outcome.
Come Roger...come out of the closet. Embrace your biases.
In the meantime, while Roger contemplates that, find this movie in theaters or on Netflix.
About halfway through it, I realized the Fox News is a little like the WWF used to be. Everyone knew wrestling was fake, but they would insist that it was real...that was part of the fun. Unfortunately, too many Americans think Fox is a NEWS network, but it's really 99% commentary. I wouldn't mind if Fox came out of the closet, admitted it was a tool of the GOP and went on entertaining, but people who will vote in this country think Sean Hannity is a journalist, and that is frightening.
So, I think there is a commanility here. People who thought the old WWF was real, think Fox is a News Network...these are very likely the same demographic.
I just wish Murdoch and Ailes would take a lesson from Vince McMahon. Come out of the closet, embrace your commentary/opinon only style and stop pretending to be real. The new WWE is making tons of money these days, probably more popular than ever, it's the same product that it was before but now we appreciate it for its campiness.
Come to think of it, Fox News and WWE do have a lot in common. The both involved pretty people shouting at each other a lot with not a lot of substance to any of it, and the producers know the outcome.
Come Roger...come out of the closet. Embrace your biases.
In the meantime, while Roger contemplates that, find this movie in theaters or on Netflix.
Friday, August 27, 2004
Paul Hamm, Silver medalist, whiner and poor sport
So, let's say that at the end of a basketball game the scoreboard reads 80-79 in favor of Team A. Now, after the game Team B realizes that they didn't get credit for a basket in the 1st half. With that basket, Team B wins the game 81-80.
Team A protests and says, NO WAY, we won. We don't care if the score is wrong, you said I won and that's enough for me.
Well America, Team A is Paul Hamm.
NOW, he's got to gonads to protray himself as some sort of victim. DUDE, the victim is Yang Tae-youn...the South Korean who got really screwed. He's sitting thier with is bronze medal due to a scoring error by the judges.
That this is even possible proves that events with judges like gymnastics and figure skating aren't sports at all, but competitions, like the Ms. Universe pageant...determining who has the prettier landing is like determining who is pretty in a bathing suit. I'm not saying that these guys are incredible athletes, that Iron Cross thing is awe-inspiring, but having 7 judges determine who has a better Iron Cross is where the problem lies...but I digress.
So, Yang, if not for the judges error gets the Gold and Hamm the Silver. Hamm may be the best gymnast in the world, but he DIDN'T WIN this competition. He came in second.
Everyone in Mr. Hamm's circle is rushing to defend him and blaming the judging and everyone else. You know what, Hamm did win the medal, but to millions of Americans...we know he doesn't deserve it.
He was second best on this day and if he had any self-respect, he'd return it and give it to it's rightful owner. He may be all indignant about it now, but in 5 or 10 years when he's sitting back reflecting on his Olympic experience, he'll realize he should have done the RIGHT THING, when he had the chance.
Team A protests and says, NO WAY, we won. We don't care if the score is wrong, you said I won and that's enough for me.
Well America, Team A is Paul Hamm.
NOW, he's got to gonads to protray himself as some sort of victim. DUDE, the victim is Yang Tae-youn...the South Korean who got really screwed. He's sitting thier with is bronze medal due to a scoring error by the judges.
That this is even possible proves that events with judges like gymnastics and figure skating aren't sports at all, but competitions, like the Ms. Universe pageant...determining who has the prettier landing is like determining who is pretty in a bathing suit. I'm not saying that these guys are incredible athletes, that Iron Cross thing is awe-inspiring, but having 7 judges determine who has a better Iron Cross is where the problem lies...but I digress.
So, Yang, if not for the judges error gets the Gold and Hamm the Silver. Hamm may be the best gymnast in the world, but he DIDN'T WIN this competition. He came in second.
Everyone in Mr. Hamm's circle is rushing to defend him and blaming the judging and everyone else. You know what, Hamm did win the medal, but to millions of Americans...we know he doesn't deserve it.
He was second best on this day and if he had any self-respect, he'd return it and give it to it's rightful owner. He may be all indignant about it now, but in 5 or 10 years when he's sitting back reflecting on his Olympic experience, he'll realize he should have done the RIGHT THING, when he had the chance.
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Terror Warning due?
OK, let’s see. Rummy takes a hit on Abu Gharib. The Bush Campaign’s lawyer is actually helping the Swift boat vets, despite denials by the Bush Camp. Cheney opening disagrees with Bush on the Constitutional Amendment banning Gay Marriage.
I would imagine it’s time for Karl Rove to refocus everyone’s attention on FEAR.
I would imagine it’s time for Karl Rove to refocus everyone’s attention on FEAR.
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
When Bruce did this, the Bushies called him stupid
But, I suppose this is cool.
Country Music Stars Push Vote Campaign By JOHN GEROME Associated Press Writer HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn.
I’m not going to insult these musicians by calling them Stupid and ignorant, like a friend of mine did of Bruce. Besides I like Ricky Skaggs, he played with Ralph Stanley and Emmylou Harris back in the day. The man’s got mad skills. BTW- like Jackson Browne and assorted others who were claimed to be uneducated, Mr. Skaggs started touring professionally at age 15 and there is no mention of him graduating from any high school. One must assume that he doesn’t have a PhD in Middle Eastern Studies.
And just another note: Mr. Skaggs says that “voting is a God given right”. I think Mr. Skaggs needs to learn his history. Because if God was doling out the voting rights, wouldn’t everyone have the? Like people in Sudan, Soviet Russia, Jews in 1939 Germany, etc. Or even here in America. Where blacks and women could not vote until Congress and the Executive branch provided and enforced that right to vote.
I guess, unless Ricky meant that God gave the vote to property owning white men, then he might have something. But speaking only for Women, it was Congress and the people of Tennessee (August 24, 1920) who provided the needed state ratification of the Amendment to grant women suffrage. So, it really wasn’t God, it was Congress and a majority of State Legislature.
I agree with the sentiment, but God’s getting credit where he doesn’t need it. Again, nothing but love for Ricky’s musical skills, but his civics needs a little work.
Country Music Stars Push Vote Campaign By JOHN GEROME Associated Press Writer HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn.
I’m not going to insult these musicians by calling them Stupid and ignorant, like a friend of mine did of Bruce. Besides I like Ricky Skaggs, he played with Ralph Stanley and Emmylou Harris back in the day. The man’s got mad skills. BTW- like Jackson Browne and assorted others who were claimed to be uneducated, Mr. Skaggs started touring professionally at age 15 and there is no mention of him graduating from any high school. One must assume that he doesn’t have a PhD in Middle Eastern Studies.
And just another note: Mr. Skaggs says that “voting is a God given right”. I think Mr. Skaggs needs to learn his history. Because if God was doling out the voting rights, wouldn’t everyone have the? Like people in Sudan, Soviet Russia, Jews in 1939 Germany, etc. Or even here in America. Where blacks and women could not vote until Congress and the Executive branch provided and enforced that right to vote.
I guess, unless Ricky meant that God gave the vote to property owning white men, then he might have something. But speaking only for Women, it was Congress and the people of Tennessee (August 24, 1920) who provided the needed state ratification of the Amendment to grant women suffrage. So, it really wasn’t God, it was Congress and a majority of State Legislature.
I agree with the sentiment, but God’s getting credit where he doesn’t need it. Again, nothing but love for Ricky’s musical skills, but his civics needs a little work.
Thursday, August 12, 2004
why Is Cheney Mocking the President?
http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=906742&tw=wn_wire_story
Cheney takes marks out of context, so here is what Kerry said, but he did use the word “sensitive”, but SO DID BUSH THE VERY NEXT DAY…you can’t make this stuff up. :
"Kerry had told a meeting of minority journalists last week that he could do a better job than Bush of cultivating allies in the war on terrorism. "I believe I can fight a more effective, more thoughtful, more strategic, more proactive, more sensitive war on terror that reaches out to other nations and brings them to our side," he said"
Here are Bush’s comments THE NEXT DAY to the SAME GROUP:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/08-06-2004/0002226945&EDATE=
"Now in terms of the balance between running down intelligence and bringing people to justice obviously is -- we need to be very sensitive on that."
Cheney takes marks out of context, so here is what Kerry said, but he did use the word “sensitive”, but SO DID BUSH THE VERY NEXT DAY…you can’t make this stuff up. :
"Kerry had told a meeting of minority journalists last week that he could do a better job than Bush of cultivating allies in the war on terrorism. "I believe I can fight a more effective, more thoughtful, more strategic, more proactive, more sensitive war on terror that reaches out to other nations and brings them to our side," he said"
Here are Bush’s comments THE NEXT DAY to the SAME GROUP:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/08-06-2004/0002226945&EDATE=
"Now in terms of the balance between running down intelligence and bringing people to justice obviously is -- we need to be very sensitive on that."
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Goss, worse than I thought
I thought the Dems were just being whiney about the Goss nomination, but then I read the bullets below.
Goss Blocked Efforts to Investigate Abu Ghraib: As chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Goss led a party-line vote to reject an amendment that would have "Increased oversight and investigated alleged prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib." [Congressional Quarterly, 6/17/04]
Goss blocked efforts to investigate Ahmed Chalabi: As chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Goss led a party-line vote to reject an amendment that would have authorized an investigation into "U.S. dealings with Iraqi exile leader Ahmed Chalabi." Even after allegations that Chalabi has leaked U.S. military secrets to Iran, Goss said, "I would say that the oversight has worked well in matters relating to Mr. Chalabi." (Congressional Quarterly, 6/17/04)
Goss mocks suggestion to investigate the outing of Valerie Plame: "Rep. Porter Goss said Thursday that the uproar over allegations that White House officials purposely identified a covert CIA agent...doesn't yet merit an investigation by the House Select Committee on Intelligence, which he chairs...'Somebody sends me a blue dress and some DNA, I'll have an investigation.'"
If a guy is going to “Shake up” the intelligence services maybe he should be willing to look at problems with US Intelligence (remember it is Military Intelligence that is still being investigated in the Abu Gharib mess). Chalabi looks like an Iranian spy, and the person who is going to oversee the CIA should be a little more concerned with protecting agents than some WH leaker and Bob Novak. Someone overseeing intelligence shouldn’t be such a partisan lackey. But, I don’t know why I thought it would be different with the Bushies this time…I guess I’m just an optimist.
Above bullets from Altercation
Goss Blocked Efforts to Investigate Abu Ghraib: As chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Goss led a party-line vote to reject an amendment that would have "Increased oversight and investigated alleged prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib." [Congressional Quarterly, 6/17/04]
Goss blocked efforts to investigate Ahmed Chalabi: As chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Goss led a party-line vote to reject an amendment that would have authorized an investigation into "U.S. dealings with Iraqi exile leader Ahmed Chalabi." Even after allegations that Chalabi has leaked U.S. military secrets to Iran, Goss said, "I would say that the oversight has worked well in matters relating to Mr. Chalabi." (Congressional Quarterly, 6/17/04)
Goss mocks suggestion to investigate the outing of Valerie Plame: "Rep. Porter Goss said Thursday that the uproar over allegations that White House officials purposely identified a covert CIA agent...doesn't yet merit an investigation by the House Select Committee on Intelligence, which he chairs...'Somebody sends me a blue dress and some DNA, I'll have an investigation.'"
If a guy is going to “Shake up” the intelligence services maybe he should be willing to look at problems with US Intelligence (remember it is Military Intelligence that is still being investigated in the Abu Gharib mess). Chalabi looks like an Iranian spy, and the person who is going to oversee the CIA should be a little more concerned with protecting agents than some WH leaker and Bob Novak. Someone overseeing intelligence shouldn’t be such a partisan lackey. But, I don’t know why I thought it would be different with the Bushies this time…I guess I’m just an optimist.
Above bullets from Altercation
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Mythical Recover
"On Monday, Morgan Stanley's chief economist, Stephen S. Roach, dubbed this "The Mythical Recovery," hooked on three drugs now in increasingly short supply: tax cuts, rising government spending and low interest rates."
I can’t wait to hear about how the Chief Economist for MORGAN STANLEY hates America, Loves Saddam, is a pinko, faked his war injuries in Vietnam, is French, and is being paid off by Hilary Clinton.
"The economy has 1.1 million fewer jobs than the day Bush took office, making it more than likely he will join Herbert Hoover as the second president to see the nation suffer a net job loss on his watch."
And the Heritage Foundations rousing endorsement: (So, now the standard is beating the socialism of Western Europe…good show)
"We may not be doing great compared to some theoretical ideal," Mitchell said. "But compared to Western Europe or Japan, we're kicking tail."
I can’t wait to hear about how the Chief Economist for MORGAN STANLEY hates America, Loves Saddam, is a pinko, faked his war injuries in Vietnam, is French, and is being paid off by Hilary Clinton.
"The economy has 1.1 million fewer jobs than the day Bush took office, making it more than likely he will join Herbert Hoover as the second president to see the nation suffer a net job loss on his watch."
And the Heritage Foundations rousing endorsement: (So, now the standard is beating the socialism of Western Europe…good show)
"We may not be doing great compared to some theoretical ideal," Mitchell said. "But compared to Western Europe or Japan, we're kicking tail."
Mythical Recover
"On Monday, Morgan Stanley's chief economist, Stephen S. Roach, dubbed this "
I can’t wait to hear about how the Chief Economist for MORGAN STANLEY hates America, Loves Saddam, is a pinko, faked his war injuries in Vietnam, is French, and is being paid off by Hilary Clinton.
"The economy has 1.1 million fewer jobs than the day Bush took office, making it more than likely he will join Herbert Hoover as the second president to see the nation suffer a net job loss on his watch."
And the Heritage Foundations rousing endorsement: (So, now the standard is beating the socialism of Western Europe…good show)
"We may not be doing great compared to some theoretical ideal," Mitchell said. "But compared to Western Europe or Japan, we're kicking tail."
I can’t wait to hear about how the Chief Economist for MORGAN STANLEY hates America, Loves Saddam, is a pinko, faked his war injuries in Vietnam, is French, and is being paid off by Hilary Clinton.
"The economy has 1.1 million fewer jobs than the day Bush took office, making it more than likely he will join Herbert Hoover as the second president to see the nation suffer a net job loss on his watch."
And the Heritage Foundations rousing endorsement: (So, now the standard is beating the socialism of Western Europe…good show)
"We may not be doing great compared to some theoretical ideal," Mitchell said. "But compared to Western Europe or Japan, we're kicking tail."
Sunday, August 08, 2004
who said this...?
“I deeply resent the destruction of federalism represented by Hillary Clinton's willingness to go into a state she doesn't even live in and pretend to represent people there. So I certainly wouldn't imitate it.”
It’s an easy one.
Yup, GOP Candidate for Senator fromIllinois and Maryland Resident Alan Keyes.
It’s an easy one.
Yup, GOP Candidate for Senator fromIllinois and Maryland Resident Alan Keyes.
Friday, August 06, 2004
and the Bushies thought Berger was bad
For all the bitching about Sandy Berger taking documents home with him, at least he never disclosed classified information to the Press.
And this guy is getting away with it, without so much as a PEEP from the "LIBERAL MEDIA".
The fantastic part of this, is that it was a Fox News guy that sold him out when he was questioned by the FBI.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5605685/
And this guy is getting away with it, without so much as a PEEP from the "LIBERAL MEDIA".
The fantastic part of this, is that it was a Fox News guy that sold him out when he was questioned by the FBI.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5605685/
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Where is the outrage?
Cheney's company, under his leadership, is guilty of the same kind of accounting bullshit that Tyco, Adelphia, Enron, etc have done. Our Vice President, was CEO at the time of these crimes, our Vice President STILL receives compensation from this company. This company received NO BID CONTRACTs and proceeded to engage in war profiteering.
Where is the investigation? Where is the impeachment?
WHERE THE HELL IS THE LIBERAL MEDIA?
http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/4909755.html
I guess because it's not something important like making $10,000 dollars on a piece of land in Arkansas, it doesn't warrant the "LIBERAL MEDIA's" attention.
SHAMEFUL.
Where is the investigation? Where is the impeachment?
WHERE THE HELL IS THE LIBERAL MEDIA?
http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/4909755.html
I guess because it's not something important like making $10,000 dollars on a piece of land in Arkansas, it doesn't warrant the "LIBERAL MEDIA's" attention.
SHAMEFUL.
Friday, July 30, 2004
More Fiscal Responsibility from the GOP
I'm sure it's Clinton's fault, but the case gets pretty tough when the Bushies control all three branches of the government:
White House Projects Highest Deficit Ever
By ALAN FRAM Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - This year's federal deficit will soar to a record $445 billion, the White House projected Friday in a report provoking immediate election-season tussling over how well President Bush has handled the economy.
The administration's annual summertime budget update forecast shortfalls falling to $331 billion next year, then fading to $229 billion by 2009. For each year, the red ink was smaller than the White House envisioned six months ago.
White House Projects Highest Deficit Ever
By ALAN FRAM Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - This year's federal deficit will soar to a record $445 billion, the White House projected Friday in a report provoking immediate election-season tussling over how well President Bush has handled the economy.
The administration's annual summertime budget update forecast shortfalls falling to $331 billion next year, then fading to $229 billion by 2009. For each year, the red ink was smaller than the White House envisioned six months ago.
Tax cuts must not be working this season
U.S. Economy Slows Drastically in Spring By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON - The U.S. economy slowed dramatically in the spring to an annual growth rate of 3 percent, as consumers, worried about higher gasoline prices, cut back their spending to the weakest pace in three years, the Commerce Department reported Friday.
The April-June advance in the gross domestic product, the country's output of goods and services, was below the 3.8 percent increase many economists had expected and was significantly down from a revised 4.5 percent growth rate in the first three months of the year.
The administration, counting on a rebounding economy to bolster President Bush's re-election prospects, insisted the second-quarter slowdown was only temporary and forecast that growth would rebound in the second half of the year.
WASHINGTON - The U.S. economy slowed dramatically in the spring to an annual growth rate of 3 percent, as consumers, worried about higher gasoline prices, cut back their spending to the weakest pace in three years, the Commerce Department reported Friday.
The April-June advance in the gross domestic product, the country's output of goods and services, was below the 3.8 percent increase many economists had expected and was significantly down from a revised 4.5 percent growth rate in the first three months of the year.
The administration, counting on a rebounding economy to bolster President Bush's re-election prospects, insisted the second-quarter slowdown was only temporary and forecast that growth would rebound in the second half of the year.
Sunday, July 25, 2004
My letter to Eric
I sent a note to Altercation last week and it made it to SLacker Friday:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3449870/
A couple of months ago, Andy Sullivan published a rant of mine. Next...Josh Marshall
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3449870/
A couple of months ago, Andy Sullivan published a rant of mine. Next...Josh Marshall
Monday, July 19, 2004
This time he wants all the facts?
Unlike Iraq, when speculation, innuendo and jumping to conclusions was all the rage, this time he wants the facts.
“We want to know all of the facts,” Bush said when asked about reports that at least eight of the 19 hijackers passed through Iran before attacking the United States.
“We want to know all of the facts,” Bush said when asked about reports that at least eight of the 19 hijackers passed through Iran before attacking the United States.
Monday, July 12, 2004
Logically false arguements
Bush said the other day that Saddam had the "capability" and the "intent" to make WMD. Now wait a minute. If you hav the means and the desire to do something, you do it. If you don't do it then you lacked either the means or the desire.
Example: I want some ice cream (intent), but I've got no money and no way to get to the ice cream store (capability)...so I don't get any ice cream.
Scenario two: I've got $100 in my pocket and I'm standing outside the Dairy Queen (Capability), but I don't want ice cream (intent) again...no ice cream.
Scenario Three: I'm still outside DQ with my $100, but now I want Ice Cream. So, guess what? I get the ice cream, because I had "capability" AND "Intent".
Capability + Intent = Action
If the Action doesn't happen, then one of the other two is missing.
So, Saddam either didn't have the capacity to build WMD or he didn't want to. He could not have had both, because then he would have done it. I don't know which one it is, and after the Senate report, I don't know that anyone does
Simple Logic.
Example: I want some ice cream (intent), but I've got no money and no way to get to the ice cream store (capability)...so I don't get any ice cream.
Scenario two: I've got $100 in my pocket and I'm standing outside the Dairy Queen (Capability), but I don't want ice cream (intent) again...no ice cream.
Scenario Three: I'm still outside DQ with my $100, but now I want Ice Cream. So, guess what? I get the ice cream, because I had "capability" AND "Intent".
Capability + Intent = Action
If the Action doesn't happen, then one of the other two is missing.
So, Saddam either didn't have the capacity to build WMD or he didn't want to. He could not have had both, because then he would have done it. I don't know which one it is, and after the Senate report, I don't know that anyone does
Simple Logic.
Saturday, July 10, 2004
How dare anyone speak against this WH?
Chief of Park Police Fired;
Jeez, it’s a good thing people don’t get fired in the travel office or the President might get impeached. Just those who's professional experience leads them to question.
They just fire (And threaten to fire) anyone who disagrees with them. Any professional in their field is in danger for doing their job with this administration.
Maybe if she was a political hack like most of the Bush appointees who got their jobs after leaving Enron, Halliburton and Baker and Botts, instead of a professional law enforcement officer she might have known better than to dare question.
Shameful.
Jeez, it’s a good thing people don’t get fired in the travel office or the President might get impeached. Just those who's professional experience leads them to question.
They just fire (And threaten to fire) anyone who disagrees with them. Any professional in their field is in danger for doing their job with this administration.
Maybe if she was a political hack like most of the Bush appointees who got their jobs after leaving Enron, Halliburton and Baker and Botts, instead of a professional law enforcement officer she might have known better than to dare question.
Shameful.
Just a reminder
For those of you who haven't lately (or ever) given a good listen to the sweet sounds of Dwight Yoakam and Los Lobos...please do.
These are two of my faves and they should get more respect and love from the mainstream, but they don't. Give 'em a listen.
I'd recommend "Will the Wolf Survive" for you Los Lobos needs and any of the Dwight Greatest Hits Compilations, as they'll give you a fine taste.
Anyway, just had to say that after listening to both of them today.
These are two of my faves and they should get more respect and love from the mainstream, but they don't. Give 'em a listen.
I'd recommend "Will the Wolf Survive" for you Los Lobos needs and any of the Dwight Greatest Hits Compilations, as they'll give you a fine taste.
Anyway, just had to say that after listening to both of them today.
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
More great leadership from the WH
Bush undecided on naming new CIA chief.
Yeah, you wouldn’t want to rush that considering the war on terror. Yeah, leave it vacant for a few months…it’s not a very important job.
Unbelievable.
I especially like this line:
"I haven't made up my mind on the nomination process."
oh, PUH-LEEZE. What he meant was "Dick hasn't told me what his decision making process will be yet."
Yeah, you wouldn’t want to rush that considering the war on terror. Yeah, leave it vacant for a few months…it’s not a very important job.
Unbelievable.
I especially like this line:
"I haven't made up my mind on the nomination process."
oh, PUH-LEEZE. What he meant was "Dick hasn't told me what his decision making process will be yet."
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
The sad state of the Bush Campaign
It looks like the GOP is admitting that it can't beat Kerry on it's own merits. It's really said that Bush has to team up with Nader to try to defeat Kerry. Pathetic and sad.
Monday, June 21, 2004
Prediction
Kerry as effective as Bush on terrorism, says Americans
I know that Bush doesn’t run the country by poll numbers, unless it’s responding to bad poll numbers (like his continuous flip flopping on the 9/11 commission), but I predict that given these poll numbers there will be a terrorist threat warning in the coming days. Maybe action by the DOJ that will be spun as taking a hard approach to a threat. Watch and see.
Thursday, June 17, 2004
The Wheels are coming off
Senate does the right thing despite Bush's objections.
And how do you argue with this logic:
"The reason I keep insisting that there was a relationship between Iraq and Saddam and al-Qaida because there was a relationship between Iraq and al-Qaida," Bush said.
This is the same type of thinking that brought you a Justice Dept memo that concluded: “It’s not torture if you don’t call it “torture””
Shameful.
And how do you argue with this logic:
"The reason I keep insisting that there was a relationship between Iraq and Saddam and al-Qaida because there was a relationship between Iraq and al-Qaida," Bush said.
This is the same type of thinking that brought you a Justice Dept memo that concluded: “It’s not torture if you don’t call it “torture””
Shameful.
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
The funniest thing said by a Republican in years
"I don't like the politics of personal destruction," DeLay said at a news briefing.
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Random Thoughts
The Lakers lost again...so sweet. I find this hard to believe that I'm about to say this, but Shaq was the one guy on the court for the Lakers that appeared to "want" it. Sure, he got away with his offensive fouls, over the back fouls and travels like always, but he was the only Laker who appeared determined.
Being from Portland, I'm sort rooting for Rasheed. Sure, he was a punk in Portland, but I always said he had the skills to be one of the games best. He has shown that in Detroit so far this year and especially tonight. So, giving a shout out to 'Sheed tonight.
HW Bush jumped out a plane again today. Kudos to him. I think his son is incompetent, a liar and probably has committed a few crimes in his tenure, but his dad gets it done. I didn't like him much as a President either, but as an ex-President, he's al right with me.
Being from Portland, I'm sort rooting for Rasheed. Sure, he was a punk in Portland, but I always said he had the skills to be one of the games best. He has shown that in Detroit so far this year and especially tonight. So, giving a shout out to 'Sheed tonight.
HW Bush jumped out a plane again today. Kudos to him. I think his son is incompetent, a liar and probably has committed a few crimes in his tenure, but his dad gets it done. I didn't like him much as a President either, but as an ex-President, he's al right with me.
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Conason's "Big Lies"
I read Joe Conason's "Big Lies" on the way home from NY yesterday. I'd give it an A-. It was a good read. In parts it reminded me of Alterman's "What liberal Media", but less hysterical.
Conason makes excellent points about the hypocrisy of the Right, which is always so delicious. Like Bill Bennett being a compulsive gambler and Rush being a junkie. Those are the obvious ones, Joe points out some some of the less obvious and reminds us of much of the hypocrisy we've forgotten. If the Left had a Fox News Channel we could be reminded of the adultery of many of the GOPs most prominent members, their drunken sailor spending and Chicken Hawk military records. But we don't so we have to rely on Blogs and authors like Conason.
Conason makes excellent points about the hypocrisy of the Right, which is always so delicious. Like Bill Bennett being a compulsive gambler and Rush being a junkie. Those are the obvious ones, Joe points out some some of the less obvious and reminds us of much of the hypocrisy we've forgotten. If the Left had a Fox News Channel we could be reminded of the adultery of many of the GOPs most prominent members, their drunken sailor spending and Chicken Hawk military records. But we don't so we have to rely on Blogs and authors like Conason.
It's not about principles it's about quantity
With Rush Limbaugh and the Governor of California both publicly admitting to obtaining Cuban cigars in America it appears that it’s not really Cuban cigars that are an issue. It’s having too many of them.
Otherwise the GOPs obsession with a failed Cuban embargo would seem hypocritical.
(Sidenote: want to cause the downfall of Castro? Open up trade. Once Cubans get a taste of new American cars instead of the 40 year old ones they now drive, they'll be embracing capitalism and democracy...it'll happen)
Otherwise the GOPs obsession with a failed Cuban embargo would seem hypocritical.
(Sidenote: want to cause the downfall of Castro? Open up trade. Once Cubans get a taste of new American cars instead of the 40 year old ones they now drive, they'll be embracing capitalism and democracy...it'll happen)
Thursday, June 03, 2004
Tenet
Bush on Tenet:
Bush said Tenet had done "a superb job for the American people."
"He has been a strong and able leader at the agency," Bush said.
"He has been a strong leader in the war on terror and I will miss him."
OK, now I know W is delusional. To say that he did a “superb job” is pretty much crap. His biggest failing is that he could not get this administration to listen to him. The Bushies ignored his concerns about Iranian Spy Chalabi, ignored his advice about the Niger Nuke claim, and couldn’t convince Bush to leave his vacation in Texas as the largest terrorist attack ever was imminent.
I don’t think he was a failure at his job per se, he was a failure in getting the WH to listen to him. But just watch the Rove machine now. Tenet will be blamed for EVERYTHING.
Bush said Tenet had done "a superb job for the American people."
"He has been a strong and able leader at the agency," Bush said.
"He has been a strong leader in the war on terror and I will miss him."
OK, now I know W is delusional. To say that he did a “superb job” is pretty much crap. His biggest failing is that he could not get this administration to listen to him. The Bushies ignored his concerns about Iranian Spy Chalabi, ignored his advice about the Niger Nuke claim, and couldn’t convince Bush to leave his vacation in Texas as the largest terrorist attack ever was imminent.
I don’t think he was a failure at his job per se, he was a failure in getting the WH to listen to him. But just watch the Rove machine now. Tenet will be blamed for EVERYTHING.
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
"Vote for me or you'll die"
Who’s playing politics with national security now? Well, we know Bush is because he keeps calling the war in Iraq, the “war on terror”. Everyone with a brain, knows that’s a bunch of crap.
What? Who me? Never heard of the man...
That may sound like what Bush said about Ken Lay, his biggest funder and to date, the biggest beneficiary of that donation (he's not in prison). But no, this is the President's recent comments about Ahmed Chalabi. The President said today that he only met CHalabi once...at the rope line. Well ATRIOS begs to differ. And there's photos.
I know the President likes to get his information in small digestable AND AGREEABLE packages, but methinks the President should review things he's actually participated in before he lies to the world.
I know the President likes to get his information in small digestable AND AGREEABLE packages, but methinks the President should review things he's actually participated in before he lies to the world.
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
Chalabi and Iran play Bush WH like a drum
This is the man who sat, as a guest of the first family, at the State of the Union. Makes you wonder about the theories being discussed that the Iranians may have staged the greatest intellegence coup in decades by getting the US (thru Chalabi) to get rid of Saddam for them.
Reports: Chalabi Told Iran U.S. Had Codes
WASHINGTON - Ahmad Chalabi, the former Iraqi exile once regarded as a friend of the Bush administration, revealed to Iran that the United States had broken the code of its intelligence service, according to broadcast and published reports.
CBS News reported Tuesday that Chalabi had told an Iranian intelligence official that the United States had cracked its codes, allowing U.S. agents to read Iran's secret communications. By revealing such information, Chalabi would have exposed one of the United States' most important sources of information about Iran.
The New York Times, quoting anonymous U.S. intelligence officials, reported on its Web site Tuesday that Chalabi told the Baghdad chief of the Iranian spy service that the United States was reading its communications. The Iranian spy described the conversation in a message to Tehran, which was intercepted by U.S. intelligence.
A CIA official declined to comment on the reports Tuesday night.
The American officials quoted by the Times said the Iranian spy, in the message to Tehran, reported that Chalabi had said he had gotten the information from an American who had been drunk.
CBS reported that FBI agents are questioning Defense Department officials in an effort to find out who gave such information to Chalabi. The Times reported that the FBI expects to interview civilians at the Pentagon who were strong supporters of Chalabi.
Chalabi, a member of the Shiite Islamic sect to which the majority of Iranians and Iraqis belong, once was a favorite of Pentagon officials. He recently came under suspicion that he might have handed over sensitive information to Iran about the U.S. occupation.
He had provided intelligence to the Bush administration about weapons of mass destruction, which was used to justify the U.S. war against Iraq, but his information came under major criticism after no weapons were found.
The CIA has long been suspicious of Chalabi's Iraqi National Congress, but he had maintained strong supporters in other government agencies. Until last month, his organization was on the U.S. government payroll, receiving roughly $340,000 a month from the Defense Department for intelligence.
Reports: Chalabi Told Iran U.S. Had Codes
WASHINGTON - Ahmad Chalabi, the former Iraqi exile once regarded as a friend of the Bush administration, revealed to Iran that the United States had broken the code of its intelligence service, according to broadcast and published reports.
CBS News reported Tuesday that Chalabi had told an Iranian intelligence official that the United States had cracked its codes, allowing U.S. agents to read Iran's secret communications. By revealing such information, Chalabi would have exposed one of the United States' most important sources of information about Iran.
The New York Times, quoting anonymous U.S. intelligence officials, reported on its Web site Tuesday that Chalabi told the Baghdad chief of the Iranian spy service that the United States was reading its communications. The Iranian spy described the conversation in a message to Tehran, which was intercepted by U.S. intelligence.
A CIA official declined to comment on the reports Tuesday night.
The American officials quoted by the Times said the Iranian spy, in the message to Tehran, reported that Chalabi had said he had gotten the information from an American who had been drunk.
CBS reported that FBI agents are questioning Defense Department officials in an effort to find out who gave such information to Chalabi. The Times reported that the FBI expects to interview civilians at the Pentagon who were strong supporters of Chalabi.
Chalabi, a member of the Shiite Islamic sect to which the majority of Iranians and Iraqis belong, once was a favorite of Pentagon officials. He recently came under suspicion that he might have handed over sensitive information to Iran about the U.S. occupation.
He had provided intelligence to the Bush administration about weapons of mass destruction, which was used to justify the U.S. war against Iraq, but his information came under major criticism after no weapons were found.
The CIA has long been suspicious of Chalabi's Iraqi National Congress, but he had maintained strong supporters in other government agencies. Until last month, his organization was on the U.S. government payroll, receiving roughly $340,000 a month from the Defense Department for intelligence.
Sunday, May 30, 2004
Restoring more integrity to the WH
Now, if this was something really important, like personnel decisions in the Travel Office, I’m sure Rush, Hannity, et al would be outraged. But since this is just the Veep providing preferential treatment to the company from which he still receives checks so it can engage in numerous instances of war profiteering, I’m sure this will just be “overreaction by the liberal media”.
Freaking hypocrites.
Actually, I’ll wait to see what more comes out on this. But, as I looked for some more news on this, but Foxnews.com didn’t have a mention of this story…wonder why?
So, I'm still giving him the benefit of the doubt, I don't know why. This adminstration continually shows how crooked it is, but I'll wait for more proof.
Freaking hypocrites.
Actually, I’ll wait to see what more comes out on this. But, as I looked for some more news on this, but Foxnews.com didn’t have a mention of this story…wonder why?
So, I'm still giving him the benefit of the doubt, I don't know why. This adminstration continually shows how crooked it is, but I'll wait for more proof.
Friday, May 28, 2004
Doesn't this make you feel safe?
I thought the Dept of Homeland Security was created so that there would be coordination between all the Federal Agencies? Maybe the Justice Dept. didn't get the memo?
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Oregon giving John fits
Tough week for America’s scariest man: First, Johnny’s little material witness zealotry backfires and the Justice Department gets a rebuke from a Federal Judge and Freedom loving Americans everyone then, a SECOND court upholds States rights (formerly a Conservative tenet) over an overreaching political/religious based ideology.
Remember when Conservatives (not that the Bush Adminstration is holds to any "Conservative" beliefs) were for a SMALLER Federal Government?
Remember when Conservatives (not that the Bush Adminstration is holds to any "Conservative" beliefs) were for a SMALLER Federal Government?
Sunday, May 23, 2004
Shrek @
So, me and the fam saw Shrek2 today. Good times. This movie is going to make a billion. We went on Sunday at the 9:30 AM show (when the god-fearing folks are at church) and the place was probably 60% full. Given that there was also a show at 9 and 10 tells me that S2 is going to rake in the dough.
Anyway, I'd give it 4 stars and maybe a bonus 1/2 star for using a Buzzcocks song and a Sanford and Son reference.
I give it a recommend
Anyway, I'd give it 4 stars and maybe a bonus 1/2 star for using a Buzzcocks song and a Sanford and Son reference.
I give it a recommend
Thursday, May 20, 2004
When you abandon the principles of this country...
This is what happens. Innocent men are sent to jail, without charge, without review. Our government could have kept him forever on this fake material witness crap.
This could have been you...
This could have been you...
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Wolfy gone Frenchie?
Every time I ever pointed out the poor planning or even the lame ass lies that made up the rationale for war to my Bushie friends, the always witty comeback was "you'd rather have Saddam" or "you're just like the French and we ALL know they're hiding something".
Well, Paul must have been eating too many of the French Fries.
Well, Paul must have been eating too many of the French Fries.
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Soprano's: Six Feet Under meets Fellini
What was up with tonight's Soprano's? I've never been a fan of dream sequences and tonight's sequence drove home it's point over and over again. Hey, I'm a big fan of blatant "Godfather" references as much as the next guy (and "Bugsy", etc)...and probably a ton of other references I didn't get, but OK, we get it.
After a while you're thinking a shot of Patrick Duffy in the shower is next or it turns out that Tnny's really a 10 year old kid staring at a snow globe (Ask your parents).
After a while you're thinking a shot of Patrick Duffy in the shower is next or it turns out that Tnny's really a 10 year old kid staring at a snow globe (Ask your parents).
Saturday, May 15, 2004
Charles Paul Freund has an interesting take on how brutality and stupidity seemingly often go hand in hand. And in the end, often the outcome is the opposite of the desired one. In this case, as in others, the barbarism simply emboldens America.
Friday, May 14, 2004
He almost had me...
When Bush announced he wouldn’t attend his daughters’ graduations, initially I thought, “That’s not very “family values”. Then I read that he wasn’t attending so as not to be a burden on the other families that would have to go thru metal detectors and searches, etc. And while I still thought “these are your daughters, but that’s a legitimate reason”. This would be about the first thing I’ve agreed with the Prez on in many many months.
Then I read that he’ll be speaking at three graduations. So, I guess I should have gone with my gut and realized that unless this man has a political motive, it’s just not going to happen.
Then I read that he’ll be speaking at three graduations. So, I guess I should have gone with my gut and realized that unless this man has a political motive, it’s just not going to happen.
Pierce on Alterman
Charles Pierce, who often fills in for Alterman when he's unable to blog, has another beauty today. In case you didn't know, he's damn funny, especially when mocking other bloggers. You can find this at Alterman's blog.
Pure COM O DEE
• May 14, 2004 | 11:01 AM ET
"And it follows that the revered Senator McCain, who has been declaring that he wants all the remaining photos released, is acting like a posturing, media-mad fool."
-- Mickey Kaus 5/12/04
Doc --
And, it follows, of course, Mickey is blogging like a college sophomore who discovered Ripple and Sun Tzu an hour ago. But, we digress.
Pure COM O DEE
• May 14, 2004 | 11:01 AM ET
"And it follows that the revered Senator McCain, who has been declaring that he wants all the remaining photos released, is acting like a posturing, media-mad fool."
-- Mickey Kaus 5/12/04
Doc --
And, it follows, of course, Mickey is blogging like a college sophomore who discovered Ripple and Sun Tzu an hour ago. But, we digress.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Prisoner abuse
I haven't commented on this because it's mostly been said by people smarter than me, from John McCain and George Will to ALterman, Marshall and even Lindsey Graham. But, today's comments by Senator Inofe were very troubling. No one has said that this is a poor reflection on the hundreds of thousands of US troops doing their thing. But, he's outraged at the outrage...as if that our enemies our brutal it gives us a pass on brutality. Apparently the Senator's sense of irony is lost. Remember? we went their to free Iraqi's from torture (well, that was the reason after the WMD arguement had been abandoned).
It's like saying anti-semitism is ok, because Hitler killed 6 million Jews and denying Jews their rights, isn't as bad as that.
What the hell kind of freak logic is that?
He accussed Senator Kerry of turning the issue into a poltical one, while he grandstands. This whole war is political, it's Bush's political war. His disaster. He's put thousands of damn fine Americans in harms way, and someday when the WH stops lying we might know their true motivation for lying to us. We may learn the true motivation for this war. But, what we know now is that Iraq was no danger to us, it had no links to terrorism against America and that this WH had NO PLAN to rescue the country once we invaded.
Shameful
It's like saying anti-semitism is ok, because Hitler killed 6 million Jews and denying Jews their rights, isn't as bad as that.
What the hell kind of freak logic is that?
He accussed Senator Kerry of turning the issue into a poltical one, while he grandstands. This whole war is political, it's Bush's political war. His disaster. He's put thousands of damn fine Americans in harms way, and someday when the WH stops lying we might know their true motivation for lying to us. We may learn the true motivation for this war. But, what we know now is that Iraq was no danger to us, it had no links to terrorism against America and that this WH had NO PLAN to rescue the country once we invaded.
Shameful
Sunday, May 09, 2004
Politics trumps science...again
FDA administrator overrules scientists.
So, the GOP doesn’t want abortion, it won’t educate kids on sex, it won’t provide condoms, and now against medical evidence it won’t offer the “day after pill”. I wonder if it’s because if people used this pill and stopped having abortions then they wouldn’t have a devisive issue to wage war on “liberals”.
Idiots.
So, the GOP doesn’t want abortion, it won’t educate kids on sex, it won’t provide condoms, and now against medical evidence it won’t offer the “day after pill”. I wonder if it’s because if people used this pill and stopped having abortions then they wouldn’t have a devisive issue to wage war on “liberals”.
Idiots.
Friday, May 07, 2004
My Bushie friends finally agree with my view of 18 months ago
A Bushie friend of mine vehemently opposed my idea that if the Iraqis want democracy and freedom they should do it themselves. Now, he says that it's very important to hand over power because the Iraqis need to step up and create their own democracy.
I responded to him after I thanked him for finally accepting my middle east vision:
Hand over “power” to whom? Do we have a name yet?
And we ain’t handing power over to shit.
I’m sure their will be some pretty ceremony where Paul Bremer hands the keys to the city to some Chalabi like US-puppet and Bush will say "mission accomplished" again. Then, exactly who will be controlling the country with 150,000 US troops there? Remember, the guy with the gun has the power.
So, this player to be named later will have NO POWER. NONE.
He’ll be more of a figurehead than George Bush is.
I responded to him after I thanked him for finally accepting my middle east vision:
Hand over “power” to whom? Do we have a name yet?
And we ain’t handing power over to shit.
I’m sure their will be some pretty ceremony where Paul Bremer hands the keys to the city to some Chalabi like US-puppet and Bush will say "mission accomplished" again. Then, exactly who will be controlling the country with 150,000 US troops there? Remember, the guy with the gun has the power.
So, this player to be named later will have NO POWER. NONE.
He’ll be more of a figurehead than George Bush is.
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